Neil Olshey will become the general manager of the Portland
Trail Blazers after backing out of an agreement in principle to a contract with
the Clippers.
The Clippers announced Monday afternoon they have mutually agreed to end
discussions and part ways with Olshey. Shortly thereafter, the Blazers
announced their hire.
Olshey, now the Clippers’ former vice president of basketball operations, never
signed a new contract with the Clippers.
The Clippers said that president Andy Roeser has already begun the search for a
general manger to succeed Olshey, who never signed a new contract with the
team.
Coach Vinny Del Negro, director of player personnel Gary Sacks and Roeser will
handle all of team’s responsibilities in regard to basketball operations as the
team looks for a new general manager.
Olshey had interviewed recently with Portland owner Paul Allen in London, and
Olshey also interviewed for the GM position last year in Portland.
Olshey had been given credit as the architect who put together a Clippers team
that went 40-26 last season and had the best winning percentage (.606) in
franchise history.
He had acquired Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler, Reggie Evans, Nick
Young and Kenyon Martin and re-signed center DeAndre Jordan after Jordan signed
an offer sheet with the Golden State Warriors.
— Broderick Turner
