[Charania] "The firm concluded [Neil] Olshey often confronted staffers and cursed toward them, sources said. According to individuals with knowledge of the probe, Olshey allegedly made an inappropriate comment toward a female staff member, which was cited during the investigation."

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For the last month, the Blazers organization has been under even closer scrutiny, since the Nov. 5 revelation that longtime president of basketball operations and general manager Neil Olshey was under investigation for alleged workplace misconduct. The mood around the Moda Center had been anxious as the investigation wore on, and the team’s play certainly hadn’t helped...Then on Friday morning, the Trail Blazers fired Olshey, ending a tenure that was equal parts successful and strained.

Dozens of coaches, front office members and team staffers were interviewed as part of the probe — Blazers players were given an opportunity to speak with investigators but all of them declined. The firm concluded Olshey often confronted staffers and cursed toward them, sources said. According to individuals with knowledge of the probe, Olshey allegedly made an inappropriate comment toward a female staff member, which was cited during the investigation.

A Blazers spokesperson told The Athletic: “Out of consideration for the privacy of the people impacted by this investigation, we don’t have any additional comment at this time.”

Olshey earned a reputation for his temper during his 10 seasons in Portland, often privately disparaging co-workers. Staffers described Olshey as abrasive and controlling. Olshey had two more years on his contract worth upwards of $20 million total. One source said the Blazers believe they had cause to fire Olshey, which voided his contract. Olshey may challenge that stance.

The hope within the organization is that Olshey’s exit acts as a kind of reset. Cronin is overseeing the front office now, and sources said he will be a legitimate candidate for the permanent job. In the interim, Cronin will have autonomy for moves that benefit the organization moving forward.

The culture under Olshey’s leadership deteriorated over the past couple of seasons. Sources said Blazers ownership also received several complaints about a lack of diversity in the front office. In April, the team hired former WNBA star Asjha Jones to the front office as well as former Oregon Ducks basketball star Edniesha Curry as the first female assistant coach in franchise history in July. But it was not lost on those within the Blazers organization, including Lillard, how reactionary the team had become.