2016
Blazers jumped in on a three-team deal; they sent a 2020 second rounder and received Anderson Varejao and a 2018 first rounder (from Cleveland) in return.
They used the stretch-provision on Varejao, and a year later swapped the 2018 first rounder for Cleveland’s 2017 first rounder.
Guess who that pick turned out to be? Summer League first-teamer and fan favorite Caleb Swanigan. Another opportunistic move by Olshey.
He gave up peanuts (second rounder and $2 million in cap space) for Swanigan. They also acquired former first rounder Shabazz Napier for cash considerations.
Napier has stepped in admirably when Lillard/McCollum have been injured. Regardless, a serviceable role-player for cash is once again crafty.
2017
There are two noteworthy transactions that have occurred this year.
First, is the deal that swung Portland’s season: Mason Plumlee, 2018 second rounder and cash considerations were sent in exchange for Jusuf Nurkić and a first-round pick.
That first rounder ended up being the 20th overall pick which was packaged with Portland’s own 15th pick to move up to select Zach Collins (10th overall).
The thing to notice is all the assets that Olshey accrued over time add up, and it fills the treasure chest enough to acquire talent.
You would think Nurkić alone would be a good enough return, but adding that extra first-round pick helped acquire Collins.