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Portland Trail Blazers General Manager Neil Olshey gave a press conference this morning, his first after the end of the July Moratorium during which free agent contracts can be discussed informally, but not agreed upon or signed. The Trail Blazers gave up LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Robin Lopez, and Arron Afflalo in free agency. With the gag order on NBA officials lifted, Olshey stepped to the podium to explain the strategy and answer questions.
He began by explaining why the team is rebuilding.
Olshey: "We weren't good enough." On why rebuild is the way he is going.
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
He made reference to the importance of Aldridge as the cornerstone of the former roster.
Olshey said it was "overly optimistic" to suggest that team could go forward as is w/o Aldridge.
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
And explained further that as Aldridge went, so would the remainder of the free agent starters.
"If LaMarcus left, it was not a market we were going to compete in." Olshey on RoLo and Wes
— Amy Schwartz (@TheAmySchwartz) July 9, 2015
Olshey continued by extolling the virtue of Portland's near $29 million cap space potential...
Olshey on cap space: "Cap room is a tool" along with trades and the draft. Hyping using cap room in trades, not just to sign outright.
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
...and underlined the potential for imbalanced trades the space provides.
Olshey on making a trade before the season starts: "I hope so." #RipCity
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
He assured listeners that Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen was on board with the team's new direction:
Olshey said it was not difficult to sell Paul Allen on rebuild direction.
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
Olshey: Paul Allen isn't worried about the next 5 minutes. He cares about the next 5 years, 10 years. #RipCity
— CSNNW (@CSNNW) July 9, 2015
Then Olshey circled back to Aldridge and his big decision.
Olshey said he and Allen gave Aldridge a "myriad" of opportunities to tell them if he's returning or leaving, but he wouldn't.
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
Olshey: "We spent every penny we could spend" (and no more) to leave enough room to re-sign LaMarcus late in process. #RipCity
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
Were #Blazers hiding something from media/fans? "We weren't," Olshey said.
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
And the lengths he went to to make Aldridge feel included:
Olshey: "There wasn't one move we made LaMarcus wasn't aware of." Includes Batum trade, FA agreements. Says all were vetted through LA.
— oregonlive/blazers (@blazersblog) July 9, 2015
He also explained why trading Aldridge wasn't an option, returning to the matter several times throughout the speech.
"You don't break up a 54-win team." — Olshey
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) July 9, 2015
Olshey on why he didn't trade LMA sooner: He had one year left on contract, nobody would trade for him without knowing he'd commit. #RipCit
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
Olshey said, "I would've been strung up in Pioneer Square" if he traded Aldridge at trade deadline.
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
Nor was a sign-and-trade.
Why no sign-and-trade for Lopez, Matthews, Aldridge? "Teams weren't interested," Olshey said.
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
Olshey: "All the teams that signed our guys didn't need our participation."
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
Then Olshey moved along to discussion of the new roster.
Olshey asked how he likes roster now: "It's a work in progress."
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
He confirmed Damian Lillard as the new centerpiece.
Olshey said everything done on roster was to complement Aldridge. Now it will be to complement Lillard.
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
Olshey: "Our best player now is @Dame_Lillard, and it's a helluva place to start."
— oregonlive/blazers (@blazersblog) July 9, 2015
Olshey: Blazers trying to find players who haven't hit their ceiling yet. Expressing confidence in player development of team. #RipCity
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
Olshey urging folks not to look at the roster from position depth; rather, to look at the overall talent on that roster. #RipCity
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
He spoke on the evolution of CJ McCollum as part of that roster:
Olshey reiterating that CJ McCollum is going to play a lot of point guard this year.
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) July 9, 2015
And Lillard's leadership, making clear what the hope spot is in this story:
On @Dame_Lillard's leadership: "Dame's really led by example. Clearly, he's the hardest worker, he plays through everything." - Olshey
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
"He’s a special kid." Neil Olshey on @Dame_Lillard
— Amy Schwartz (@TheAmySchwartz) July 9, 2015
Olshey said Lillard was doing a shell drill with SL team. "It's a $100 million shell drill, dude," Olshey said he joked to Dame.
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
On @Dame_Lillard's leadership: "Dame's really led by example. Clearly, he's the hardest worker, he plays through everything." - Olshey
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
Olshey on Dame becoming the team leader: Blazers asked, "'Is this something you're ready for, and do you want it?' And he does."
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
Despite the rebuild label, Olshey bristled at the suggestion that the Blazers were tanking.
Olshey, when asked if the team is tanking: "NO." #RipCity
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
Olshey said he think there's more talent here today than when he got here 3 years ago.
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
"I don't want to hear about tanking." Olshey
— Amy Schwartz (@TheAmySchwartz) July 9, 2015
Olshey: "We've actually upgraded some positions."
— oregonlive/blazers (@blazersblog) July 9, 2015
And mused about the future:
Olshey: "I don't want to put a ceiling on how long it's going to take to get someplace" before young players fully develop. #RipCity
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
Neil says this is going to be hardest on him.
— Amy Schwartz (@TheAmySchwartz) July 9, 2015
Olshey on roster: "These guys are better than you guys think. They're just younger."
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
When asked whether it's a rebuild or a retool, Olshey says it's an "emerging" roster whose "best days are ahead of them." #RipCity
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
On free agents coming to Portland:
Olshey not really buying into "FAs don't want to come to Portland" theory. #RipCity
— CSNNW (@CSNNW) July 9, 2015
On firing Assistant Coach Kim Hughes:
Olshey said, "It was hard," to fire Kim Hughes, and "it hurt me on a personal level."
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
The assembled media appeared to approve of the conference.
Olshey being very calm and explanatory here, laying out why he did what he did.
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) July 9, 2015
Gotta give Neil Olshey this, call him what you may, think what YOU like, but he's a damn good salesman #Blazers
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) July 9, 2015
Olshey: "Jim's got $50 that somebody can't piss me off." Wants more questions from press. #RipCity
— Blazer's Edge (@Blazersedge) July 9, 2015
Damian Lillard was scheduled to speak after Olshey finished. plus Coach Stotts and the introduction of the newest Trail Blazers. We will have that for you in a few minutes.