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PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
NBA

Portland Trail Blazers fire GM Neil Olshey after independent investigation into workplace culture

The Portland Trail Blazers on Friday fired general manager and president of basketball operations Neil Olshey after an investigation into workplace culture found that Olshey violated the franchise’s code of conduct.

“The Portland Trail Blazers are committed to building an organization that positively impacts our colleagues, communities and the world in which we live and play,” the team said in a statement. “Following the conclusion of the independent review of concerns and complaints around our workplace environment at the practice facility, the Portland Trail Blazers organization has decided to terminate General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey, effective immediately due to violations of the Portland Trail Blazers’ Code of Conduct. Out of respect for those who candidly participated in that privileged investigation, we will not release or discuss it.”

Portland Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey was fired Friday.

Early last month, the Blazers opened an investigation into Olshey and his workplace conduct saying the organization had been notified of concerns. Those concerns were focused on bullying, inappropriate tirades and intimidation, according to Yahoo Sports.

Assistant GM Joe Cronin was promoted to interim GM, and the team said it will conduct a search for a permanent replacement. Former Boston Celtics executive Danny Ainge, an Oregon native who played two seasons for the Blazers, has been mentioned as a potential replacement.

Olshey joined the Blazers, from the Los Angeles Clippers, as general manager in 2012 and drafted Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, the team’s cornerstone players.

All things Blazers: Latest Portland Trail Blazers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

The Blazers, off to an 11-12 start this season, made the playoffs the past eight seasons, reaching the Western Conference finals in 2019. But they have lost in the first round in four of the past five seasons, and Lillard expressed his desire to play for a team that can compete for a championship. There were concerns Lillard would ask for a trade.

In the offseason, Olshey fired Terry Stotts and hired Chauncey Billups, a decision that was unpopular with the fanbase given Billups’ connection to sexual assault allegations from 1997 when Billups played in the NBA.

Olshey dismissed those concerns in a tone-deaf news conference to introduce Billups in which he declined to reveal many details from the team’s investigation into Billups.

“You're just going to have to take our word that we hired an experienced firm that led us to the results we already discussed,” Olshey said.

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