Addressing the Concerns
Olshey has long had a keen eye for talent while also understanding that a team is built from having a strong culture and chemistry. He brought sports psychologists at draft workouts in order to cultivate good personalities on the roster. It’s one of the reasons why Portland overachieved last season. The combination of chemistry and internal development. Although this may seem like where Cousins could be contradictory, he has been known to be a ‘servant leader’ off the court.
Under the tutelage of John Calipari at the University of Kentucky, he was taught how to be a genuine person off the court. Cousins has a charity for youths while also frequently giving back to his loved ones. He has been stuck in a toxic situation where the Kings franchise have done him no favors. The term ‘cancer’ has often been associated with Cousins, but there may not be any substance to that after all.
A move such as this would require all the major pillars of the organization to be hands on deck. This starts from the top with owner Paul Allen which trickles down to Olshey, Stotts and then franchise face and leader, Damian Lillard. There are few teams around the league that would be suitable to absorb a potential risk like Cousins, while also having the culture to take him in. The Trail Blazers could certainly fit this bill as they (finally) have the upper management stability to take advantage of a situation that could well make them a matchup nightmare with two top 15 players.