Olshey: Festus Ezeli Will Not Be A Trail Blazer Next Season

Festus Ezeliwill not be on thePortland Trail Blazers’ roster next season, according to President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey, who indicated as much in hisexit interviewon Tuesday afternoon:

Do you envision Festus Ezeli being on the roster next year?

No. No. We stay in contact with Festus, giving him full organizational support in terms of his rehab, but we can’t have that kind of a risk again to have a roster spot at a critical position for someone that—we don’t have a body of work with him.

Ezelisigned a two-year, $15.1 million contract with the Trail Blazers last summer, but did not play a single game due to lingering knee issues andconsequent surgery. The second year of Ezeli’s contract is only partially guaranteed for $1 million.