I know this, Dame is a fantastic talent that this team has only ran into a few times. I'm in what is likely, the last qtr. of life. I'd rather ride this out with Dame, because chances are, especially in the One & Done'er Era, I will not see a better Player or Leader on my favorite team again. So if somehow, just some how, Neil puts the right guys around Dame, at least there's the possibility of great things.
You are assuming that we replace Olshey with someone equally maladroit. Did it take the Clips 25 years to improve after Olshey left them?
The problem for me is the unknown after the Fire Olshey part. My fear would be getting a Vlade Divac type of GM who led the Kings to years of bad to mediocre with a rare playoff sighting as compared to the Blazers playoff level mediocrity. Yes. I want Olshey gone but don't trust current ownership/management with picking a good replacement. Hence, I guess I land in the keep both category. If Olshey is an expression of current management, I would expect a replacement to be similar (at best). Just viewing the Blazer world with a highly jaded perspective.
I understand how you feel about Dame, but consider this. The Suns reached the finals with no individual player as good as Dame. The Hawks made it to the semis with no player as good. Both are teams that looked awful only recently. Basketball is still a team game and there are GMs who understand roster building better than Olshey.
Regardless if you like Neil or not, if he pulls it off and brings Dame his athletic big and some, and we advance, coupled with Dame still in love and wanting to retire a Blazer, you have to be at least somewhat happy with that? If you say nope, as long as NO's here, I will never be happy as a blazer fan, thats seems immature, and unsophisticated as a fan. lol
I remember when Walton was not liked by many fans in Portland because injuries & politics, but when we won the big one many of them same fans changed their tune, big time. Including reporters. When he left to SD they went back to hating him. Fans are fickle