Blazers fire general manager Neil Olshey, 4 weeks after launching workplace investigation

The Portland Trail Blazers have parted ways with their general manager, Neil Olshey, effective immediately.

The team announced Olshey’s firing on Friday morning. In a statement shared on social media, the Blazers wrote the following:

“The Portland Trail Blazers are committed to building an organization that positively impacts our colleagues. Communities and the world in which we live and play.

Following the conclusion of the independent review of concerns and complaints around our workplace environment at the practice facility, the Portland Trail Blazers organization has decided to terminate General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey, effective immediately due to violations of the Portland Trail Blazers’ Code of Conduct. Out of respect for those who candidly participated in that privileged investigation, we will not release or discuss it. We are confident that these changes will help build a more positive and respectful working environment. Joe Cronin has been promoted to interim General Manager while the organization’s leadership conducts a search for a permanent replacement.”

The news comes four weeks after the team publicly acknowledged the investigation. The Athletic and Yahoo Sports were the first sources to report that the investigation centered around behavior displayed by Olshey.

Olshey became general manager of the Blazers in July 2012 and president of basketball operations in 2015.

Cronin will move from his role as director of player personnel to replace Olshey.

Olshey’s firing is one of the recent management shakeups in the Blazers organization. On Nov. 12, the team announced the resignation of CEO Chris McGowan, who said he reached the decision to resign after “careful consideration over the summer.”

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