Rumors

Potential candidates for the position have been informed they will have the agency to dismiss Weaver from his post, league sources told Yahoo Sports. But the early returns of Detroit’s search have not seemed to net much forward progress for the Pistons. While Detroit hoped to interview Milwaukee lead executive Jon Horst, the Bucks blocked those advances and did not allow Horst permission to do so, sources said. Other names, like former Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey, sources said, declined the Pistons’ outreach to interview for the role as well.

Yahoo! Sports

These conclusions, combined with Portland’s stasis on the floor, led to his exit in December 2021. His departure is said to have been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the team and Olshey. On their end, the Sixers are aware of the circumstances surrounding Olshey’s departure from the Blazers, with a team source saying they felt comfortable moving forward with Olshey in the consultant role. Their hope has been buoyed by what Olshey has done with his time away from a front office gig, which included extensive executive coaching, and early reviews have been positive for his help navigating the offseason.

allphly.com

“I’ve had a strong working relationship with Neil for nearly two decades,” Daryl Morey said. “I have always admired his approach to talent evaluation and think he’s been one of the very best in that area. I’m happy he’s consulting for our group. He’s already proven to be a valuable resource.” As a consultant working for the power players in the front office, Olshey is positioned to offer some wisdom in the talent evaluation process without being thrust back into a leadership position, a soft reintegration after the rocky end in Portland.

allphly.com

CJ McCollum: I don’t think I’m the reason [Damian Lillard] is leaving my friend and Neil Olshey hasn’t been there in years. Takes more than a piece or two to win a chip

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“Intimidation and profanity-laced tirades” were cited in the investigation among Olshey’s methods of management. “I heard a number of stories about how badly people felt Neil treated them,” Larry Miller told The Post. “It got to a boiling point and it’s something that Jody and Bert should have been well aware of and done something about it.”

New York Post

Sean Highkin: CJ McCollum: "Once Neil was let go, I kind of saw the writing on the wall, with Dame being shut down, where it was trending. Either I'm going to be shut down or I'm going to be [traded]."

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Simons, meanwhile, was a promising youngster who had mostly scuffled in his first three years, even as veterans trumpeted his talent and predicted stardom. Added to the expectations was the full-throttled support of Neil Olshey, the executive who drafted Simons. Olshey never backed down in his belief that Simons was the most talented player he had ever drafted, a list that included Blake Griffin, Lillard and McCollum.

The Athletic

Anfernee Simons' recent explosion also has league executives chattering about the future of CJ McCollum in Portland, and to a lesser extent that of Norman Powell. Simons is headed for a lucrative restricted free agency this summer, and Portland is already trying to evade paying the luxury tax. 
Assessing the interest for McCollum is somewhat difficult given his recent collapsed lung and a decline in production at the age of 30. But former GM Neil Olshey's regime valued McCollum quite highly, and there's a sense among some rival executives that McCollum would have a sizable market at a lower evaluation than Olshey may have held.

Bleacher Report

The Blazers recently let go of their top basketball executive, Neil Olshey, promoting Joe Cronin in the interim. While Cronin will run the team until an official hire, it's unclear if that hire will happen before the trade deadline. Sources indicate he'll have an opportunity to keep the position long-term, but Chicago Bulls general manager Marc Eversley, G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Boston Celtics vice president of player and organization development Allison Feaster are the front-runners.

Bleacher Report

The Sixers have long targeted Lillard, who reaffirmed his desire to stay in Portland around the start of the team's training camp. After the recent firing of president of basketball operations Neil Olshey, Cronin has publicly and privately said the franchise plans to keep building around Lillard. The Blazers have been open to discussing a deal for Simmons centered on guard CJ McCollum, but that conversation never gathered traction, sources said.

ESPN

Damian Lillard: Can’t say I’m surprised.

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As former President of Basketball Operations and GM Neil Olshey exits the Blazers, the process to hire his successor will soon be underway. Portland is deciding whether it'll hire a firm to research and recommend candidates, sources said. Bert Kolde, the long-time ownership executive and right-hand man to the late Paul Allen, will direct the search again. He's hired several GMs in his tenure.

ESPN

Olshey earned a reputation for his temper during his 10 seasons in Portland, often privately disparaging co-workers. Staffers described Olshey as abrasive and controlling. Olshey had two more years on his contract worth upwards of $20 million total. One source said the Blazers believe they had cause to fire Olshey, which voided his contract. Olshey may challenge that stance.

The Athletic

Sean Highkin: Chauncey Billups on Neil Olshey's firing: "Obviously, it was kind of a tough day at the practice facility. Naturally, with the investigation people were anticipating what might happen."

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