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Portland GM Neil Olshey Being Investigated For Creating Hostile, Toxic Work Environment
ChillyDawg
Member Posts: 1,469
INFO
Wikipedia Bio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Olshey
NEWS
Yahoo https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-trail-blazers-president-neil-olshey-allegedly-created-toxic-workplace-with-bullying-intimidation-065116805.html
Blazers Edge https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/11/12/22779501/neil-olshey-investigation-news-portland-trail-blazers-report-chris-mcgowan-terry-stotts
Blazers Edge https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/11/7/22769227/portland-trail-blazers-gm-neil-olshey-investigation-could-last-a-few-weeks
Blazers Edge https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/11/13/22780522/neil-olshey-investigation-news-portland-trail-blazers-2021-quotes-accusations-toxic-environment
ESPN (click for full article) https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32566458/source-portland-trail-blazers-vp-basketball-operations-neil-olshey-facing-misconduct-investigation
Wikipedia Bio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Olshey
NEWS
Yahoo https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-trail-blazers-president-neil-olshey-allegedly-created-toxic-workplace-with-bullying-intimidation-065116805.html
Blazers Edge https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/11/12/22779501/neil-olshey-investigation-news-portland-trail-blazers-report-chris-mcgowan-terry-stotts
Blazers Edge https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/11/7/22769227/portland-trail-blazers-gm-neil-olshey-investigation-could-last-a-few-weeks
Blazers Edge https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/11/13/22780522/neil-olshey-investigation-news-portland-trail-blazers-2021-quotes-accusations-toxic-environment
ESPN (click for full article) https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32566458/source-portland-trail-blazers-vp-basketball-operations-neil-olshey-facing-misconduct-investigation
Portland Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey is under an independent investigation commissioned by the team into allegations of workplace misconduct, a source confirmed to ESPN on Saturday.
In a statement, the team acknowledged an investigation but did not name Olshey, saying the Trail Blazers were "recently notified of concerns around workplace environment by non-player personnel at the practice facility. In response, we immediately engaged O'Melveny & Myers, an outside firm with significant expertise in this area, to conduct a full, fair and independent review into these concerns and will take appropriate action based on its outcome."
Olshey is alleged to have created a hostile work environment, with instances of bullying and intimidation, according to a Yahoo Sports report.
News of the investigation into Olshey was first reported by The Athletic and comes days after ESPN's reporting of a history of alleged misconduct by Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver.
In a statement, the team acknowledged an investigation but did not name Olshey, saying the Trail Blazers were "recently notified of concerns around workplace environment by non-player personnel at the practice facility. In response, we immediately engaged O'Melveny & Myers, an outside firm with significant expertise in this area, to conduct a full, fair and independent review into these concerns and will take appropriate action based on its outcome."
Olshey is alleged to have created a hostile work environment, with instances of bullying and intimidation, according to a Yahoo Sports report.
News of the investigation into Olshey was first reported by The Athletic and comes days after ESPN's reporting of a history of alleged misconduct by Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver.
Comments
Over the past several months, the league's GMs have formed a steering committee to create a constitution, opened an LLC and informed the league office of their intentions to form a group similar in purpose and structure to the National Basketball Coaches Association, sources said.
While these steps originated in March and predate the organizational investigation into Portland Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey, that situation has further convinced front-office executives of the need for such an association, sources said.
Dozens of executives told ESPN that Portland's internal probe has stoked fears that organizations can make decisions to fire top basketball executives for any number of traditional reasons -- team performance, personality conflicts, differing philosophies -- and search simultaneously for ways to pursue "cause" violations in contracts.
Terms reported by the media like "toxic environment" and "hostile workplace" felt to rival GMs as a campaign to trigger a firing for "cause," presumably a tactic to set up the voiding of the remaining years and salary on Olshey's contract. That's what worries rival executives and has hastened the urgency of finalizing an association that could help support front-office executives in situations like the one unfolding in Portland.
If they were in charge of the Olympics or World Cup we’d get one every 12-25 years or so. If they ran in the 24 Hours of Le Mans it would take them a week to finish. In a race between a tortoise, a hare, O’Melveney and Meyers, the two law partners would finish fourth and fifth.
What I’m trying to say is these guys work slowly. Too slowly for my liking at least, and for the good of the Blazers.
Blazers Edge https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/12/3/22816398/neil-olshey-fired-portland-trail-blazers-podcast-dave-dia-latest-news-analysis
Blazers Edge https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/12/3/22816241/neil-olshey-portland-trail-blazers-nba-basketball
ESPN (click for full article) https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32779100/portland-trail-blazers-fire-gm-president-basketball-operations-neil-olshey
"Out of respect for those who candidly participated in that privileged investigation, we will not release or discuss it," the Trail Blazers said in a statement. "We are confident that these changes will help build a more positive and respectful working environment."
Joe Cronin will serve as interim general manager during the Trail Blazers' search for a permanent replacement, the team said.
The Trail Blazers announced earlier this month that law firm O'Melveny & Myers was conducting an independent investigation into "concerns around workplace environment by non-player personnel at the practice facility."
Olshey had created a hostile work environment, with instances of bullying and intimidation, according to a Yahoo Sports report at the time.
Olshey, 56, had been a member of the Trail Blazers' front office since 2012, when he took over as general manager following nine years in the LA Clippers organization. He added the president of basketball operations title in 2015.
Friday's move comes amid significant turnover within the Trail Blazers' organization.
Trail Blazers president and CEO Chris McGowan stepped down last month after nine years in the position, with chief commercial officer and executive vice president Dewayne Hankins taking over as the team's new president of business operations.
KGW News: Blazers fire GM Neil Olshey for violating team’s code of conduct. In early November, the team hired an outside firm to investigate a "toxic, hostile workplace environment" under the direction of Olshey.
ESPN: Adrian Wojnarowski joins NBA Today to discuss the Portland Trail Blazers decision to fire GM & president of basketball operations Neil Olshey and what it means for the team with many big decisions to make in the near future.