June 2012, Olshey was named the 12th general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers — including interims — replacing Chad Buchanan. Olshey had previously been Vice President of Basketball Operations, and other roles with the Los Angeles Clippers for nine years.
A review of Neil Olshey’s tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers
THE QUESTIONABLE MOVES:
Drafting Zach Collins could be considered by some as questionable. During the 2017 draft, Olshey traded the 15th and 20th selections to the Sacramento Kings for the 10th overall pick, which was used on Gonzaga center Zach Collins. Collins has been unavailable for the majority of his career with various injuries, and last played in the 2020 Orlando Bubble. He signed with the San Antonio Spurs this past offseason.
Drafting Meyers Leonard 11th overall likely didn’t look bad at the time, as there weren’t many great options remaining in the 2012 draft. However, signing him to a four-year extension while averaging only 8.4 points, and 5.1 rebounds while being very inconsistent over the years when needed the most, just might be questionable.
Allen Crabbe’s re-signing was a move that was greatly scrutinized over the years. The Brooklyn Nets gave the 2013 second-round draft pick a $75 million offer sheet, which Portland matched, making him a $75 million bench man — big failure there. Crabbe would later be traded to the same Brooklyn team for Andrew Nicholson — who the Blazers are still paying to not play basketball for them — even though he was waived by the Blazers using the stretch provision.
Olshey failed to get Damian Lillard the help he requested this off-season. Lillard asked for urgency, putting pressure on Olshey and the front office to get the additional help he needed. Olshey failed to do so and basically decided to run it back with most of the players from the previous season.
Good moves:
Okay, not all was doom and gloom with Olshey. He drafted perhaps the best point guard in team history in Damian Lillard, sixth overall in the 2012 draft (although some claim it was Buchanan who did). He drafted CJ McCollum tenth in the 2013 draft. He basically stole Jusuf Nurkic, (likely their best center of the last decade), while also acquiring a first round draft pick for Mason Plumlee and a second round pick. And let’s not forget the trade deadline from last season, sending Rodney Hood and Gary Trent Jr. to Toronto for starting small forward Norman Powell.
Nobody knows where Olshey will end up next. Maybe his days in the NBA are over? It will be interesting to see who will lead the next era of Trail Blazers basketball.