OT: Cavs GM David Griffin OUT...Chauncey Billups emerges as candidate

Submitted by Mr. Yost on

Title says it all? Is that how this works?

mGrowOld

June 19th, 2017 at 8:22 PM ^

This is increadibly short-sighted and a horrible move on Gilbert's part.  He's getting absolutely shredded in the twitterverse on this one.   

Fun Fact: Dan Gilbert has never resigned a GM (gotten rid of four them) and Griffin is the first to actually make it to the end of his contract.  My guess is he's a challenge to work with.

So much for the Paul George/Jimmy Butler rumors......

mGrowOld

June 19th, 2017 at 8:33 PM ^

You want a real laugh check out Daryl Ruiter's twitter feed right now.  If Gilbert had traded Lebron & Kyrie for Anthony Bennett I dont think he could get more upset.

He (and 99.99% of Cleveland & national media) think Gilbert has lost his mind.  BTW did you see they also let Redden go too?  He built the Cavs analytic department that was VERY well thought of league-wide.  Gilbert's cleaning house.

CarlosSpicyweiner21

June 19th, 2017 at 9:17 PM ^

I think Griff either wanted to part with someone Gilbert didn't, or Griff wanted out knowing there isn't much he can do with the roster.



In reality Griff gave Lebron a veteran roster full of guys ready to retire. They signed for such low cash he can't replace them with viable players. Griff probably wanted to move Love for young talent or assets and Gilbert wants to chase championships until it fully implodes.



Cavs fans have to see the writing on the wall that in 2-3 years this is going to be a tire fire because we have zero young talent.



Griff brought a team capable to win a title, but fully mortgaged the future....I am talking Brooklyn Nets bad.



And I love the Cavs, but it is coming.

Leaders And Best

June 19th, 2017 at 10:50 PM ^

Kevin Love has been exposed repeatedly as a weak link against the Warriors in both the 2016 and 2017 NBA Finals. Kevin Love averaged 7 points on 36% shooting (26% from 3PT) in the 2016 NBA Finals. I think they could have managed without that if you replaced him with a plus defender. He only averaged 22 minutes per game in the 2016 Finals because Cleveland could not afford to keep him on the court on defense given how little he was producing on offense.

Richard Jefferson averaged more minutes per game and made a bigger impact in the 2016 NBA Finals than Kevin Love. Love actually sat out Game 3 with a concussion that Cleveland went on to win handily.

And that is not even looking at how that trade killed Cleveland's salary cap. If you replaced Love's salary with Wiggins' rookie contract, Cleveland could have had room for possibly signing another star player or finding more weapons for their bench.

SpinachAssassin

June 20th, 2017 at 2:26 AM ^

They had stones, took some chances, and it paid off with a ring last year.  Wiggins may be the better player than Love in the next five years total, especially defensively, yet Love was 'championship-ready' at the time they were in a position to strike gold.

I don't think they can do both - protect for some version of the future and seriously chase championships now. It's all or nothing, and once LBJ declines, moves on or retires, it's a tire fire regardless. Might as well go for broke since it'll happen regardless.

buckeyejonross

June 20th, 2017 at 2:43 PM ^

That's not true. They re-signed TT, Shump and JR because they had no other choice. LeBron, Kyrie and Love all make max deals. The only way Cleveland can exceed the cap to sign role players is if they're their own role players they have Bird Rights for. 

They could have let those three role players walk, but they had no means of replacing them with anything other than minimum deals. It's either re-sign TT for $17 million per and pay the luxary tax, or try to replace his double doubles with someone on a <$5 million deal to fit under the cap. There's no human on earth who can do what TT does for that low of a salary.

mGrowOld

June 19th, 2017 at 9:35 PM ^

Hot off the pressess....

1. Lebron did NOT know and is allegedly not happy with move

2. Multiple teams have approached the Cavs about dealing Kyrie and Griffin said absolutely not.  Unknown how Gilbert thinks but based on what happened sounds like he's willing to move him.

3. Director of scouting and draft prep also got fired so this is a complete house cleaning.  Gilbert is now in charge of everything.

4. Apparently we were close to making deals for either Butler or George and now those are dead.

OIC baby......three straight finals trips and clean house.

WorldwideTJRob

June 19th, 2017 at 10:08 PM ^

I honestly think Gilbert wants to own the Pistons and he might've been in talks with Gores on the team moving downtown. If Lebron leaves next year, the franchise value drops dramatically. He might be trying to sell this season.

blueyinohio

June 20th, 2017 at 9:40 AM ^

I have been saying this for a while now... I also think he would rather own the Pistons and is on his way to getting there... Although I could be completly wrong...

I also see him making a move for the Tigers as well. I can't see the son running them and if Gilbert offers enough $$$$$....

ScooterTooter

June 20th, 2017 at 7:23 AM ^

...How could he want to move Kyrie? Youngest of the three stars, incredible scorer, big time playoff performer...honestly he should be more untouchable than Lebron just because of his age. 

You move Love because he isn't a great fit with Lebron and Kyrie. 

Cali's Goin' Blue

June 20th, 2017 at 12:05 AM ^

But Griffin was an awful GM. You can argue how much control he had once Lebron came back, but before that, he absolutely blew building a team around the possibly best player of all time. Not a very hard job to do and he gave them no chance of winning a championship. Honestly Lebron and his short-sightedness might be a better GM than Griffin IMO. You guys can let me know what you think, but I study the NBA and focus on GM's and the transactions they make. Griffin was very bad

The Fugitive

June 19th, 2017 at 8:18 PM ^

Don't do it, Chauncey.

LeBron is ruining their cap and may bolt after next season anyways. He saddled them with vets and no real trade assets maybe other than Kevin Love.

If they trade Love for Paul George there's no guarantee he and LeBron stay. Both could go to LA then you are left with Kyrie and...some dudes from the YMCA.

If they had young talent then maybe but that ship sailed when GM James traded Wiggins.

Also, the odds of them getting 56 number 1 draft picks going forward is slim. Find a better gig.

UMich2016

June 19th, 2017 at 8:21 PM ^

LeBron will retire a Cavalier.  That is his team and he has made that ultimate decision.  He is given almost all the power to craft the roster as he pleases.  This team will continue to build around LeBron and Kyrie.   Love and JR Smith will be trade options.  A change is obviously necessary to compete with the Warriors and Lebron knows he isnt getting any younger.  He needs to get a team together now to compete and try and get his 6 rings.  

I Like Burgers

June 19th, 2017 at 10:13 PM ^

Apologies then.  I'm still kind of amazed he went back to Cleveland in the first place.  I mean, he knew what kind of nut job Gilbert was when he left the first time, and that's rearing its ugly head again. If the dude wants to go play out the twilight if his career with the Lakers or any other solid team, go for it I say.  No reason to play out the string in Cleveland just because they were the team that drafted you/is close to your hometown.

The Fugitive

June 19th, 2017 at 8:35 PM ^

I agree that he will retire a Cavalier but that doesn't mean he won't go to LA in between.

LeBron is a freak of nature and could easily play at a very high level for another 5 - 6 seasons.  He's going to play for a long time like Kareem, a 20+ year career if he wants it.  There is plenty of time for him to play out west.  

I Like Burgers

June 19th, 2017 at 8:30 PM ^

Contrary to popular belief, LeBron isn't the GM there and ain't the one making the phone calls and demands on what to do.  Dan Gilbert is the one with all the dumbass ideas.  He's out of the Jerry Jones, Dan Snyder, mold of I'M SMARTER THAN EVERYONE school of ownership.

Does LeBron give suggestions and sign off on big moves?  Sure.  But that happens on every team with a star player.  Also, LeBron wanted Griffin to stay, its Gilbert that forced him out.

Also, Wiggins isn't anything special yet.  He's slightly above average three years into the league.  So lets not act like that was some sort of bad move.

Bigku22

June 19th, 2017 at 11:30 PM ^

It's funny people who have made lots of money with one particular idea/company/career, upon high levels of success and power, frequently have this mindset they now know everything about everything. 

Gilbert is an absolutely awful basketball owner that was handed a championship due to the fact the best player of the last 20 years grew up near Cleveland. 

Once Lebron leaves, the franchise will be trash once again.