Neil Olshey Rumors

Olshey, who orchestrated Anthony’s signing to mask the hole left by the injury to starter Zach Collins and the ineffectiveness of offseason signings Mario Hezonja and Anthony Tolliver, offered a quid pro quo to Anthony’s camp. “Carmelo needs an empowering and welcoming environment with a defined role that embraces his skill set on the floor and his presence in the locker room,” Olshey said. “And we need a player that can generate production from the power forward position, can alleviate defensive pressure on Dame and CJ and be trusted to make plays at critical moments in close games.”

Neil Olshey, Uncategorized

Portland Trail Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey had tried to get Carmelo Anthony in trades with the New York Knicks, tried to get him as a free agent post-Oklahoma City. Now, they were together on a call Thursday morning. Time had passed, circumstances had changed. “You need us,” sources said Olshey told Anthony. “And we need you.”

After six straight trips to the Western Conference playoffs — including two conference semifinals runs and a West finals a season ago — Olshey knew this: The Blazers needed a player capable of commanding the respect of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. They needed a presence to roust the spirit of an unnerved locker room. The Blazers wouldn’t find that in the NBA’s G-League, nor with a journeyman veteran out of a job.

The Portland Trail Blazers’ so-so start has pundits and fans alike wondering what the team could do to get their season going. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst pointed out on “The Jump” that the Blazers currently hold the NBA’s highest team payroll (including “dead” money) at $145 million, and said that executives around the league believe the team’s contracts could make them an active trade suitor: “When I’ve talked to executives out there seeing this [the Blazers’ high payroll], they believe that the Blazers are going to be active in the trade market as the season goes on.”