GM Neil Olshey Leaves Clippers for Blazers


It had been announced that Neil Olshey and the Clippers had reached an agreement on a contract extension, but because they are the Clippers, things are never that simple and straightforward with them. Olshey reversed course, and officially took the GM gig in Portland yesterday. From the Oregonian and OC Register: “The Trail Blazers on Monday hired Neil Olshey as their general manager, three days after the former Los Angeles Clippers executive was reported to have reached an agreement to stay with the Clippers. Portland swept in after contract negotiations with the Clippers broke down, and the Blazers will introduce Olshey in a Tuesday afternoon news conference. Olshey, 47, has been the Clippers vice president of basketball operations since March 2010 and has worked for the Clippers in varying roles for the past nine years. He is most known as the man who helped engineer the Clippers’ trade for All-Star guard Chris Paul last season. He comes to Portland in perhaps the most fluid time in the franchise’s history. The team needs a head coach, a starting point guard and a starting center, and the franchise owns several assets — most notably the No. 6 and No. 11 picks in the June 28 draft — as well as salary cap flexibility to make widespread changes. Olshey twice interviewed for the position — once in summer 2011, then again in late May with owner Paul Allen in London. He replaces Rich Cho, who was fired in May 2011, 10 months into his tenure. […] The man who assembled the most talented Clippers’ roster in history couldn’t agree to a contract with the organization and will now be working in Portland, doing his best to one-up his former employers. One weekend after the Clippers announced Neil Olshey would be back, the Clippers issued another announcement Monday, saying Olshey would no longer be working for the club. ‘Circumstances have obviously undergone some movement since our announcement Friday. In light of that, we want to wish Neil well and acknowledge his contributions during the time he spent with the Clippers,’ said Clippers’ President Andy Roeser in a statement.”