Blazers Finalize Three-Year Extension With Neil Olshey

Post #1 » by **RealGM Wiretap** » Thu Jan 8, 2015 9:18 pm

The Portland Trail Blazers are finalizing a three-year contract extension with Neil Olshey, according to a source.

Olshey started as the Blazers' GM in 2012.

Sam195 · Post #2 » by **Sam195** » Fri Jan 9, 2015 2:27 am

Olshey is one of the best GMs in nba history. He's responsible for drafting/trading/signing most of the current cores of both the clippers and blazers (two playoff contenders in the west). It's ironic but Olshey's best and worst moves as GM of the blazers both came during the 2012 nba draft. His best move was selecting Damian Lillard with the blazers 6th pick (which was a coup for the team since they actually acquired this pick in a trade with the nets in which the gave up a declining gerald wallace) who has changed the direction of the franchise. Olshey's worst move was standing pat in the 2012 nba draft with the blazer's original pick at #11 and selecting Meyers Leonard when he could have easily made a trade with the raptors and moved up to #8 and selected franchise center Andre Drummond before the lucky pistons. The raptors were actively shopping the 8th pick before and during the draft - it was reported afterwards that they were initially hoping either Harrison Barnes or Damian Lillard would slip to them but when that didn't happen they decided to take Terrence Ross who was next on their draft board - they looked at trades to move down but the offers involved them dropping to far and to a point where T-Ross might not be available. Ross was projected to be selected between 12-16 in most mock drafts. If the blazers had explored this option even if it meant trading away a future protected first rounder they could have landed drummond with the raps pick while toronto likely gets ross at 11. No one projected the raptors picking ross so high until they did. Meyers Leonard has been a bust if blazers projected him to be their starting center of the future - he's likely a back-up big man for the rest of his career. Olshey's reasoning for not making such a bold attempt was that he and the front office preferred pursuing a veteran big man via trade or free agency to pair with Aldridge. Blazers went after roy hibbert and brook lopez that summer but both ended up resigning with their existing teams for max deals. Than olshey acquired robin lopez via trade who is a good center but it's highly doubtful - he's the quality center that a team can win a title with. Had the blazers selected drummond - they would have a bright future for the next decade and be title favorites this season. Imagine a core of lillard, aldridge and drummond with matthews and batum on the wing. The run and gun style offense that terry stotts runs would also suit drummond's athleticism well while his defense and rim protection would make the entire team even more dangerous. Too bad this was never meant to be