New General Manager Neil Olshey has big plans for Portland Trail Blazers – NBA Update
After the Portland Trail Blazers hired Neil Olshey as the new General Manager of the franchise, the executive has indicated that he has big plans for the team. Olshey was stolen by the Trail Blazers right before the Los Angeles Clippers extended his contract.
The job at Portland will definitely not be easy for Olshey. The team set the reset button in the middle of the 2011 – 2012 season, virtually blowing up the roster by trading away Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace.
They also parted ways with the oft injured Greg Oden and Brandon Roy. Oden has been released by the club while Brandon Roy retired due to persistent knee injuries. Therefore, the Trail Blazers are looking to build a whole new team around the likes of All-Star
power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, and there isn’t much time.
Neil though doesn’t mind that one bit, and said he is looking forward to the challenge.
"I like working under pressure. I like working on deadlines," Olshey said Tuesday when he was introduced as Portland's new GM. "I think we're going to put our head down and move forward, and I think when we put our heads up in July after summer league we'll
be in great position."
The Trail Blazers have 4 picks in the 2012 NBA Draft, which will set them on their way to rebuilding the team. More importantly, they have two high first round picks, the 6th and 11th overall, and much scouting work has to be done before
they make the final decision.
The newly appointed Portland General Manager will also have $24 million available in cap space to court free agents in the summer, paving the way further for a new era to begin at the franchise. Olshey is aware of the responsibility on his shoulders and
said he will be treading with care.
"This is a seminal moment in the history of the Trail Blazers," Olshey said. "We have to handle it properly."
He also touched on the departure from Los Angeles Clippers, where he was at the helm of an exciting project with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin in the team. Neil said he didn’t have anything against Los Angeles, but said the offer from Portland was just better.
"This is not about what the Clippers did wrong. It's about what Portland did right," he said.
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