Just For Fun...Olshey and the "Whiffed" Lottery Picks

[BonesJones]

How many times....He's not really Franco

Wanna-be Franco-havin ass.

 

[wizenheimer]

Paul was 100% Lillard based on the scouts still here. Lillard was Paul's pick

it was written about at the time and even well before the draft. Both Chris Haynes and Jason Quick talked about how the Blazers scouting staff had made Lillard a primary target well before Olshey had arrived

keep in mind there was almost an obsession in Blazer management about finding the PGOTF....I'm assuming it was reactive to the decision to draft Webster instead of Chris Paul

 

[CupWizier]

it was written about at the time and even well before the draft. Both Chris Haynes and Jason Quick talked about how the Blazers scouting staff had made Lillard a primary target well before Olshey had arrived

keep in mind there was almost an obsession in Blazer management about finding the PGOTF....I'm assuming it was reactive to the decision to draft Webster instead of Chris Paul

That's not exactly how it went down. It was reported by the Blazers that they hadn't decided on Lillard until after a 3 hour pre draft workout. Dan Dickau was also involved as he was a scout and an assistant coach at the time and was involved in the workout as well as scouting Lillard when they played PSU in town and came back with a glowing report.

 

[illmatic99]

Does aminu ahead of Hayward and Paul George qualify?

 

[ABM]

Does aminu ahead of Hayward and Paul George qualify?

...and Luke Babbitt!

 

[calvin natt]

I find this convincing. It was his job to make the selection, whether or not Paul or anyone else was super enthusiastic.

If you say this wasn't his pick, then maybe Meyers and CJ weren't his picks either - maybe Paul made those too. Maybe Little is Olshey's very first draft pick?

barfo

This is so good.

Lillard wasn’t Olsheys pick!
Olshey drafted Leonard what a moron

 

[Mediocre Man]

You hate that Neil gets credit for something? Tells more about you than Neil's performance.

Managers always get credit and blame for others work, that is part of being a leader.

It wasnt his decision

 

[kjironman1]

Why do so many people believe this?

Because Meyers was progressing a bit more rapidly when both Kim Hughes and Chris Kaman were around. Not that i completely agree with it either. Because there are more variables that he dealt with like two shoulder injuries and a surgery. But it does seem to be a viable point. Kim Hughes was a decent coach for him.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Buchanan? The guy who left a few days after the draft to go to Charlotte. Is this like the time PA fired KP and let him draft anyway?

Buchanan, his staff and Paul had Dame.

 

[hoopsjock]

Buchanan, his staff and Paul had Dame.

Cool, you have your "guy". Doesn't prove anything. I had an opportunity to be with the team on a late season road trip that year. I sat poolside with Chad and a bunch of front office personnel. They talked about draft prospects for about two hours. Dame's name came up once and everyone there kinda brushed him off and never mentioned him again while gushing about other top prospects including several who were on the board for both of our pics.

I'm not trying to claim insider information but at the same time I've heard 3 different people who all claim they alone were responsible for the 2006 draft of Roy and Aldridge.

Even if you knew someone in the room it doesn't mean they are for sure telling the truth. Most of those guys were bitter about Olshey being hired. Funny enough though, Chad was actually relieved to not get the job because he enjoyed being behind the scenes a lot more.

 

[barfo]

My conclusion is this:

If Paul literally ordered Neil to draft Lillard, then it wasn't Neil's pick.

Anything less than that - if Neil picked him because he knew it would please the boss, if Neil picked him because it was the group consensus, if Neil picked him because he didn't really care, if Neil picked him because he was the new guy and didn't want to make waves, if Neil picked him because he lacked confidence in his own choice, if Neil picked him despite thinking it was the wrong choice.... it's Neil's pick, because it was his responsibility to make the pick.

barfo

 

[BonesJones]

Because Meyers was progressing a bit more rapidly when both Kim Hughes and Chris Kaman were around. Not that i completely agree with it either. Because there are more variables that he dealt with like two shoulder injuries and a surgery. But it does seem to be a viable point. Kim Hughes was a decent coach for him.

Its viable, people are just so certain of it being the only reason... and I cant be that certain. As you said, too many factors.

 

[riverman]

Kostas Papanikoulau ...his rights traded for TRob...to Houston

 

[SharpesTriumph]

My conclusion is this:

If Paul literally ordered Neil to draft Lillard, then it wasn't Neil's pick.

Anything less than that - if Neil picked him because he knew it would please the boss, if Neil picked him because it was the group consensus, if Neil picked him because he didn't really care, if Neil picked him because he was the new guy and didn't want to make waves, if Neil picked him because he lacked confidence in his own choice, if Neil picked him despite thinking it was the wrong choice.... it's Neil's pick, because it was his responsibility to make the pick.

barfo

Even if Paul orded Neil to make the pick: Neil decides to go along with this.

The GM position is all about the owner. That includes communicating, convincing, and when necessary controlling the owner. If that means keeping your mouth shut when you agree the owner is right as there is no need to convince him of an alternative path to explore, THAT is an action as well.

In every scenario possible Neil gets some credit for drafting Lillard.

 

[Paine Tablet]

That is something I don't know

Didn't Olshey recently say that he already had a folder on Lillard with him from his time scouting him with the Clippers when he took the job? He was explaining his process and his diligence. He explained how that helped with the selection. Maybe he's lying.

 

[riverman]

Didn't Olshey recently say that he already had a folder on Lillard with him from his time scouting him with the Clippers when he took the job? He was explaining his process and his diligence. He explained how that helped with the selection. Maybe he's lying.

Olshey scouted Dame at Weber State games before the draft. Dame is an Olshey pick with the Paul Allen stamp of approval..I don't care if Paul referred Dame to Neil to scout....Neil scouted him. That's been documented many times following that draft by Blazer media..