Long-time NBA GM fired after misconduct probe

2 years ago 378

The Portland Trail Blazers fired Neil Olshey, the team's president of hoops operations and wide manager, this greeting aft an probe into workplace conduct.

The Blazers promoted manager of subordinate unit Joe Cronin to interim GM.

The squad said successful a connection that Olshey was dismissed for violating its codification of conduct. The Blazers had hired an extracurricular steadfast past period to analyse workplace situation concerns stemming from allegations of misconduct involving Olshey.

The dismissal is effectual immediately.

"Out of respect for those who candidly participated successful that privileged investigation, we volition not merchandise oregon sermon it. We are assured that these changes volition assistance physique a much affirmative and respectful moving environment," the Blazers said successful a statement.

Olshey, 56, had been wide manager of the Blazers since 2012. He was promoted to president of hoops operations successful 2015.

Olshey came to the Blazers aft 9 years with the Los Angeles Clippers, which included stints arsenic manager of subordinate development, adjunct coach, manager of subordinate unit and adjunct GM.

The determination comes amid important turnover wrong the Blazers.

Trail Blazers president and CEO Chris McGowan stepped down past period aft 9 years successful the position. Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President Dewayne Hankins took implicit arsenic the team's caller president of concern operations.

Portland parted ways with longtime manager Terry Stotts astatine the extremity of past play and hired Chauncey Billups arsenic his replacement. The determination came amid questions astir however the Blazers selected Billups implicit much experienced candidates and concerns astir intersexual battle allegations lodged against him astir a quarter-century ago.

Billups ne'er faced charges related to those allegations that came retired successful 1997 and settled retired of tribunal with the accuser 3 years later.

Billups, a five-time NBA All-Star implicit a 17-year playing career, had ne'er been a caput manager earlier coming to the Blazers. He served arsenic an adjunct with the Clippers past season.

Portland is 11-12 truthful acold nether Billups. The Blazers are coming disconnected a 114-83 nonaccomplishment to the San Antonio Spurs yesterday

Under Olshey, the Trail Blazers person made the NBA playoffs for the past 8 seasons, the longest progressive streak successful the league. The team's champion decorativeness came successful 2018-19, erstwhile Portland went to the Western Conference finals for the archetypal clip since 2000. But the squad hasn't precocious retired of the archetypal circular successful 4 of the past 5 years.

Less than a period aft hiring Olshey, the Blazers selected Damian Lillard with the sixth wide prime successful the NBA draught and built the franchise astir him.

Lillard, a six-time All-Star, won Rookie of the Year honours successful his archetypal season. Last season, helium averaged 30 points and 8 assists.

Portland's probe into workplace environment, announced connected November 6, was conducted by the instrumentality steadfast O'Melveny and Myers.

"The Portland Trail Blazers are committed to gathering an organisation that positively impacts our colleagues, communities and the satellite successful which we unrecorded and play," the squad said successful its statement.

Cronin is successful his 15th play with the Blazers. He became manager of subordinate unit successful 2014 and manages the team's wage cap.

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