What Does Neil Olshey Firing Mean for Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers? - Bleacher Report

The team said in their statement announcing the move that it still plans to conduct a search for a permanent head of basketball operations.

That could also mean CJ McCollum, Olshey's prized draft discovery.

A McCollum trade has always been the obvious move to make for a meaningful upgrade, as his pairing with Lillard has repeatedly shown itself to have a hard ceiling. .

Maybe the long-speculated-about McCollum-for-Ben Simmons deal becomes a serious possibility now that the Blazers' head decision-maker won't be staking their entire professional reputation on this backcourt.

The issue of size with Lillard, McCollum and Norman Powell in the starting lineup is one many around the Blazers have pointed out for a long time, but one that Olshey in June characterized as a false media narrative that "Dame gets frustrated with you guys talking about.".

It's too early to seriously evaluate the job Billups has done in his first season as a head coach, good or bad.

It's been obvious since the death of longtime governor Paul Allen in 2018 that the Blazers have needed wholesale changes to build a true title contender around Lillard.

Short of Allen's sister, Jody, selling the team, Olshey's exit is the single biggest move that could have ensured at least a chance at giving Lillard a team worthy of what he's built in Portland.