NBA Takes: Special Edition – The saga of mutually parted ways coaches
There was this bus, and Neil Olshey threw Terry Stotts under it.
I can’t believe Portland Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey. After he and Stotts “mutually parted,” the GM had a press conference where proceeded to throw Terry so far under the bus that the basketball world may never hear from him again. Olshey will have some explaining to do to Damian Lillard. If he doesn’t please Dame, maybe he too will be mutually parting.
According to Olshey, it wasn’t the roster’s fault that the Blazers exited the first round, again. It was all on Stotts. But did Terry trade for or give up draft picks for players to play around Lillard? The winner of the 2020 offseason was all you, Neil.
Lillard’s new teammates didn’t answer the call. That was not Stotts’ fault. But again, that was all you, Neil. Getting good players and getting good players to mesh with your star are two different things.
Will Dame Time move on? Upon hearing of the mutually parting Stotts, Lillard told Olshey he wanted Jason Kidd to be his next coach. Kidd declined right away. (He wants to be the Lakers’ coach, I bet). According to Olshey, they will get a coach who works on both ends of the court. We’ll see.
Olshey is looking for a defensive-minded coach who will work with the Blazers’ dynamics. Unfortunately, the cycle of first-round exits won’t end with a new coach. I think it’s time for Portland Trail Blazers ownership to say goodbye to Neil Olshey.