Blazers Believe They Had Cause To Fire Neil Olshey, Voiding $20M Remaining On Contract

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Portland Trail Blazers believe they had cause to fire Neil Olshey, which voids the two years and upwards of $20 million remaining on his contract, a source tells The Athletic.

Olshey may challenge Portland's stance.

Players from the Blazers were given the opportunity to speak with investigators about Olshey, but they all declined.

Olshey allegedly was "abrasive and controlling" with staffers and also made an inappropriate comment toward a female staff member. 

Via Shams Charania, Sam Amick/The Athletic

[LiSTWithLani]

Yikes, this isn't a good look for Neil Olshey.

[the_process]

Yikes, this isn't a good look for Neil Olshey.

It could simply be Jody Allen wants to make a change but doesn't want to pay Olshey.

[Case2012]

His career is over and it rightfully should be after wasting Dame’s prime.

[Fade_awayJ]

His career is over and it rightfully should be after wasting Dame’s prime.

Wasted? Its the NBA..where stars and superstars never sign with small market teams unless its there only option or get overpaid. He should have been out there recruiting like all the other stars seem to do.

[luciano-davidwesley]

This one is going to court for sure

[dougthonus]

Yikes, this isn't a good look for Neil Olshey.

Maybe, "abrasive and controlling" with staffers doesn't seem like grounds for termination. Especially in the basketball world where it is still acceptable for coaches to yell and scream and guys actually get into physical fights.

A single inappropriate comment to a female is also not grounds for termination nor does it pass the bar for harassment. You typically need something much more than a comment or you need persistence of comments.

There obviously might be considerably more evidence than the realgm article reads, and Portland may absolutely have grounds to fire him with cause, but what is stated here isn't particularly meaningful and if there isn't much more evidence, the Blazers will get taken to court and likely lose.

[slicedbread2]

Yikes, this isn't a good look for Neil Olshey.

Maybe, "abrasive and controlling" with staffers doesn't seem like grounds for termination. Especially in the basketball world where it is still acceptable for coaches to yell and scream and guys actually get into physical fights.

A single inappropriate comment to a female is also not grounds for termination nor does it pass the bar for harassment. You typically need something much more than a comment or you need persistence of comments.

There obviously might be considerably more evidence than the realgm article reads, and Portland may absolutely have grounds to fire him with cause, but what is stated here isn't particularly meaningful and if there isn't much more evidence, the Blazers will get taken to court and likely lose.

The scary thing is that Portland is 1 of 2 teams in the league to not have a g-league squad. The other is the Phoenix Suns. I know it doesn't mean much, but having a g-league squad would do wonders in terms of being able to find and develop in house replacements when the opportunity arises. Heck you could use it to develop 1st and 2nd round picks that need some seasoning and aren't getting much playing time on the regular squad.

Jody Allen had to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit of her own when she did the same thing to one of her security staff. I understand that Olshey did a terrible job in not assembling a better team to help out Lillard, but for them to go the lengths they are going to save $20M on the former GM's contract is sketchy to say the least.

[CobraCommander]

Yeah for 20 he can get a good lawyer or 20… he getting some of that money unless they got him on video