Does Olshey have a tendency to target white players?

[PtldPlatypus]

I'm hesitant to broach this topic because it seems ludicrous on its face, but I'm bringing it up anyway because I think there is value in a variety of perspectives, and I'm curious if anyone else has considered this. Take this with a grain of salt, but I've heard third-hand that part of the motivation for the Blazers' front office to drafting Collins was that since he is white, he would be less likely to be unhappy in Portland, ergo more likely to stay long term.

Looking back over Olshey's tenure here, it's arguable that a disproportionately large volume of his draft/trade/free agency targets (Leonard, Hawes, Kaman, Plumlee, Connaughton, Layman, Parsons, Nurkic) have been light-skinned. Obviously there have been several other acquisitions that don't fit that description, but looking at his track record, is it crazy to question whether Olshey is allowing skin color to influence his personnel decisions?

 

[Scalma]

What’s up Jason

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I could go as far as saying it could be used as a "tie breaker" for the man but if Olshey was so into white guys he would have drafted Steven Adams over CJ and Austin Rivers over Dame (we laugh now but at the time they were close in value).

And yes I know you addressed that there are outlighers....

 

[PtldPlatypus]

What’s up Jason

I hear you. Obviously nothing in the OP is factual--all rumor and speculation. Mostly curious if this is one of those "things we think and do not say", or if it's something that should simply be dismissed as a ridiculous theory. I take it you would say it's the latter, and I respect that.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I'm hesitant to broach this topic because it seems ludicrous on its face, but I'm bringing it up anyway because I think there is value in a variety of perspectives, and I'm curious if anyone else has considered this. Take this with a grain of salt, but I've heard third-hand that part of the motivation for the Blazers' front office to drafting Collins was that since he is white, he would be less likely to be unhappy in Portland, ergo more likely to stay long term.

Looking back over Olshey's tenure here, it's arguable that a disproportionately large volume of his draft/trade/free agency targets (Leonard, Hawes, Kaman, Plumlee, Connaughton, Layman, Parsons, Nurkic) have been light-skinned. Obviously there have been several other acquisitions that don't fit that description, but looking at his track record, is it crazy to question whether Olshey is allowing skin color to influence his personnel decisions?

Considering that PA signs off on all draft picks, I would have to call BS on that.

Also if that rumor ever got out it would kill any chance he had at ever landing another GM job.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Considering that PA signs off on all draft picks, I would have to call BS on that.

You don't think that Neil would be able to sell PA on any pick he wanted without including ethnicity in his pitch?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Drafting white playets is not a thing. HOWEVER, and other guys with the dreaded inside sources, can probably back me up on this, after the Jail Blazer era Paul Allen has mandated character over almost anything. People may not believe it, but PA gets the love affair the fans have with the players. It's not a black vs white thing, it's an articulate relatable guy vs thug mentality guy.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

You don't think that Neil would be able to sell PA on any pick he wanted without including ethnicity in his pitch?

No.

 

[BBert]

Yeah, I don't think so. Collins was a good pick, regardless of skin tone. Swanigan, not so much.

 

[Gronk Brady]

Can we shut this thread down... it’s so rediculous and insulting. Basically calling Olshey a racist because we happen to have a couple more white guys than other teams. Neil is all about value... I don’t see any draft pick that was a reach at the time... Collins actually probably went lower than expected.

 

[e_blazer]

Leonard, Hawes, Kaman, Plumlee, have been light-skinned. Obviously there have been several other acquisitions that don't fit that description, but looking at his track record, is it crazy to question whether Olshey is allowing skin color to influence his personnel decisions?

Those four don't count as they were obviously targeted for the sole purpose of killing @Mediocre Man .

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I'm outraged that Olshey has never drafted a dog.

Fucking speciesist.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I'm outraged that Olshey has never drafted a dog.

Fucking speciesist.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm outraged that Olshey has never drafted a dog.

Fucking speciesist.

You're not even a dog!

You're the Rachel Dolezal of dogs!

 

[riverman]

I'm outraged that Olshey has never drafted a dog.

Fucking speciesist.

Wes Mathews always said we don't have stars...we have dogs...so there's that

 

[dviss1]

This is silly.

He drafted Aminu when he could've drafted Gordon.

He targets players he thinks can help us.

/thread.

 

[e_blazer]

I'm outraged that Olshey has never drafted a dog.

Fucking speciesist.

This team has been going to the dogs for years.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

I'm outraged that Olshey has never drafted a dog.

Fucking speciesist.

Or a dentist!
We used to have Dischinger.
Olshey is a rabid anti-dentite!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

This is silly.

He drafted Aminu when he could've drafted Gordon.

He targets players he thinks can help us.

/thread.

That was in LA. We're talking about in Portland.

Again, the premise/question isn't even whether it's a primary factor, simply whether the data suggests that it might be a contributory consideration. Like "positional need" when evaluating players on the same talent sphere.

 

[BBert]

Or a dentist!
We used to have Dischinger.
Olshey is a rabid anti-dentite!

Gotta rep a Seinfeld reference

 

[handiman]

Drop the racist knee jerk reaction and look at the question purely on its merits. After we got burned by Oden for that very reason, can you blame Olshey if he did use that factor as a tie-breaker?

You could probably throw Dame and CJ as 4-year college guys into a similar category, banking on education and maturity trumping the big market draw.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Yeah, I don't think so. Collins was a good pick, regardless of skin tone. Swanigan, not so much.

If NO sees it the same way,
Doesn't this basically support the OP?

"Hmmm... Drafted 19 year old rookie white guy and he has skills
Draft a black conference player of the year out of college and I missed.

Hmm I think Ill stick with the white kids."


Not saying it is right or even happening,

but.....


Evan Turner tweeted begging more black people to move to Portland.
It has been well documented that there is little to no nightlife for a young black male with money in this town.


Again, I'm not saying it would be right, but I wouldn't be surprised one bit if it was at least a tiny factor.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I hesitate to even jump in this thread, but if I was to assign any shred of credulity to it, I'd think @Mediocre Man is closest.

That said, if I'm wrong and we're targeting white dudes, can we at least get the good ones? I mean, the trade below works...
We kinda suck this year with Hayward out and dropping from Dame to Rubio, so we get a high draft pick. If you think that the picks would be PHI's (LAL) pick coming to us (and the Jazz's and our 2020 going to BOS), we have 2 good lotto shots at Doncic (6'8" white PG).

Doncic/Redick (could be Parsons as well)/Hayward/Saric (or Collins)/Nurk with Rubio (TJ McConnell), Patty Ice, Layman, Jerebko, Baynes, Leonard, Wolters on the bench. Either 2018-19 NBA Champions or Hi-Fivin' White Guys (caution: Seattle Appropriation)

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ydbkbskw

 

[dviss1]

That was in LA. We're talking about in Portland.

Again, the premise/question isn't even whether it's a primary factor, simply whether the data suggests that it might be a contributory consideration. Like "positional need" when evaluating players on the same talent sphere.

Couldn't have been a primary factor when he selected Dame or CJ...

 

[dviss1]

I hesitate to even jump in this thread, but if I was to assign any shred of credulity to it, I'd think @Mediocre Man is closest.

That said, if I'm wrong and we're targeting white dudes, can we at least get the good ones? I mean, the trade below works...
We kinda suck this year with Hayward out and dropping from Dame to Rubio, so we get a high draft pick. If you think that the picks would be PHI's (LAL) pick coming to us (and the Jazz's and our 2020 going to BOS), we have 2 good lotto shots at Doncic (6'8" white PG).

Doncic/Redick (could be Parsons as well)/Hayward/Saric (or Collins)/Nurk with Rubio (TJ McConnell), Patty Ice, Layman, Jerebko, Baynes, Leonard, Wolters on the bench. Either 2018-19 NBA Champions or Hi-Fivin' White Guys (caution: Seattle Appropriation)

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ydbkbskw

View attachment 17668

Ricky Rubio is not white. He's wolf.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I hesitate to even jump in this thread, but if I was to assign any shred of credulity to it, I'd think @Mediocre Man is closest.

That said, if I'm wrong and we're targeting white dudes, can we at least get the good ones? I mean, the trade below works...
We kinda suck this year with Hayward out and dropping from Dame to Rubio, so we get a high draft pick. If you think that the picks would be PHI's (LAL) pick coming to us (and the Jazz's and our 2020 going to BOS), we have 2 good lotto shots at Doncic (6'8" white PG).

Doncic/Redick (could be Parsons as well)/Hayward/Saric (or Collins)/Nurk with Rubio (TJ McConnell), Patty Ice, Layman, Jerebko, Baynes, Leonard, Wolters on the bench. Either 2018-19 NBA Champions or Hi-Fivin' White Guys (caution: Seattle Appropriation)

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ydbkbskw

View attachment 17668

Did you just go full retard? You are never supposed to go full retard man!

 

[BrianFromWA]

Drop the racist knee jerk reaction and look at the question purely on its merits. After we got burned by Oden for that very reason, can you blame Olshey if he did use that factor as a tie-breaker?

You could probably throw Dame and CJ as 4-year college guys into a similar category, banking on education and maturity trumping the big market draw.

You mean, we shouldn't have taken the soft-spoken kid from suburban Indiana and we should've honked twice for the brash guy from inner-city DC who went to Oak Hill and was raised by his grandma? Because that better fit "Portland culture" and "PA preference?"

 

[Scalma]

I hear you. Obviously nothing in the OP is factual--all rumor and speculation. Mostly curious if this is one of those "things we think and do not say", or if it's something that should simply be dismissed as a ridiculous theory. I take it you would say it's the latter, and I respect that.

We have 16 players under contract. 5 of them are “white.”

Is that a majority? No. Is that more than average? I don’t know. Does it matter? Nah.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Did you just go full retard? You are never supposed to go full retard man!

I get the reference, but at the risk of being that guy (in a thread about how racist NO is in his player personnel decisions), let's try not to use that particular phraseology. It hits close to home for some members of our forum, and it's not in good taste.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I get the reference, but at the risk of being that guy (in a thread about how racist NO is in his player personnel decisions), let's try not to use that particular phraseology. It hits close to home for some members of our forum, and it's not in good taste.

I forgot my PR manners for this soft country... my fault.