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Despite Denials, Many Believe LeBron James Played A Role In Coach David Blatt's Firing

Cavaliers F LeBron James and his agent, Klutch Sports Group Founder Rich Paul, had coach David Blatt's "succession plan in place" in September '14, prior to his first season on the job, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of YAHOO SPORTS. The Cavaliers fired Blatt on Friday, despite the team's standing atop the Eastern Conference, replacing him with associate coach Tyronn Lue. James and Paul initially sought Mark Jackson, who "understood what he needed to do: Bring on James' and Paul's Klutch Sports agency as his representation, and prepare to deliver those commission fees" into James' coffers. But the problem with that plan was that the Cavaliers "refused to hire Jackson." So much of Cavaliers GM David Griffin's job "has been to manage the constant demands of James' camp and the volatility of owner Dan Gilbert." As much as anything, his job has been to "bridge the chaos above and below him." Sources said that Lue "became a compromise choice for James' group." James and his reps "started pushing for Lue to replace Blatt last season, and grew louder in those calls in recent days and weeks." For all the agent competitors "complaining over Klutch Sports' control" over the Cavs, it is "the kind of leverage no agent would ever reject over an NBA franchise." James "runs" the team, a choice Gilbert "made upon the superstar's return to Northeast Ohio." He has "constructed a way to maximize his basketball and business interests on Gilbert's dime, and it is possible that James will get all that and win a championship, too" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/22). In Cleveland, Joe Vardon wrote the perception is "strong that James wields enormous power within the organization." James said that he "was not consulted by the front office prior to the move," a sentiment echoed both by sources close to James and by Griffin. James: "I've stopped that a long time ago in my career, worrying about what other people think about me or what I influence or what I don't" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/24).

TEAM LOST ITS WAY: In Cleveland, Chris Haynes wrote, "Player accountability, mismanaging, a building frustration and the absence of hope led to David Blatt's ouster." Despite a 30-11 record, the team "lost belief." A team that "loses faith in the leader on the sidelines is destined to eventually fail." But management "recognized it and was forced to make the jaw-dropping decision that ended Blatt's tenure with the organization after an 83-40 record in one and a half seasons." The record "doesn't illustrate the turmoil and animosity that went on behind the scenes" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/23). In Akron, Jason Lloyd reported the "final blow" to Blatt's tenure with the Cavaliers came Wednesday, when the "visitors locker room at Barclays Center was dead and hollow" after a win against the Nets. A source said, "Their heart was gone. It was completely undermining the team" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 1/23). The Cleveland PLAIN DEALER's Vardon cited sources as saying that one reason for Blatt's firing was his "apparent incapacity to challenge James and the resentment that sowed the locker room." James is the "unquestioned leader on the Cavs, but it hurt him that Blatt wouldn't criticize James when the situation demanded it" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/24).

GRIFFIN CLEAR LEBRON DOESN'T RUN TEAM: ESPN CLEVELAND's Dave McMenamin noted Griffin "maintains he consulted only" with Gilbert and not with James, before firing Blatt. Asked about James potentially being labeled a coach killer, Griffin said, "I've got a problem in general with this narrative, and those of you that have been with us for a while understand this. LeBron plays for this team. And he's the leader of this team. ... LeBron doesn't run this organization. LeBron is about this organization, and he is of this organization, and he's of our community. But this narrative that somehow we're taking direction from him, it's just not fair" (ESPNCLEVELAND.com, 1/22). Griffin today said, "I observed those players, I observed LeBron during the last few weeks in particular. And I recognized where our spirit was. LeBron doesn’t need to say anything for me to observe how he’s responding to what’s going on, nor do any of the rest of our players" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 1/25). ESPN's Stephen A. Smith believes James was not consulted on the move, saying James is "at a point where he doesn't have to say anything." Smith: "You can look at LeBron’s face. You can tell his mood. You can see the attitude that he might walk in on an everyday basis to know what needs to be done and what doesn't need to be done based on his approval or disapproval" ("NBA Countdown," ESPN, 1/22).

PROBLEM WITH THE POWER? James said he was "surprised and caught off-guard" by Blatt's firing. Asked about the perception of his impact on the decision, James said, "That's not my concern. I found out about it just like every other player on this team at 3:30 yesterday. ... I think (Griffin) was right on everything he said. ... Like it or love it or hate it, we got to respect it" (ESPNCLEVELAND.com, 1/23). In N.Y., Frank Isola wrote the NBA is "a player's league and when you have one of the greatest to ever play you do whatever you can to protect and appease your star." Of course, James "was consulted," and, in fact, it "would be negligent of Griffin not to know he has LeBron's approval on such a significant move" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/23). Meanwhile, also in N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote, "Maybe the bigger conversation is about how things are working out with all the power James has in Cleveland, whether he was the official button man with Blatt or not. Or if he should have stayed in Miami with [Heat President Pat Riley] running things. Maybe we will find out about that as soon as this June, if the Cavs make it back to the Finals" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/24).

Griffin feels Cavaliers lacked "connectiveness"
under Blatt
LOST IN TRANSLATION: Griffin said of the decision to fire Blatt, "Sometimes you can win games in this league in the regular season and get worse. I think we were regressing over time." In N.Y., Scott Cacciola noted Griffin was "critical of Blatt, saying the team lacked 'connectiveness' and was a 'collection of individuals' rather than a unified group" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/23). ESPN.com's Windhorst & McMenamin wrote Blatt "viewed himself as a coach with numerous championships in Europe, an Olympic medal and 20-plus years on the sideline," but Cavaliers players, "especially the veterans, saw him as a rookie." The "fissure between Blatt and the players was irreparable and had been for some time." The "actions of the entire team, Blatt included, over the past 15 months brought Griffin to this conclusion" (ESPN.com, 1/23). In Boston, Gary Washburn wrote there "seemed to be insecurity in Blatt that he never overcame." He "constantly emphasized his experience" and reminded reporters that he "was no slouch and should be respected." But he "never truly was" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/24).

CHANGE WAS NECESSARY: The PLAIN DEALER's Haynes wrote Lue's first media address as coach was "informative, candid and transparent." Meanwhile, James "was adamant that he had nothing to do with parting ways" with Blatt, but he did suggest that "maybe it was time for a change." James: "You guys get so caught up in the wins and losses and I tell you everyday it's not about the wins and losses, it's how we play. It's how we prepare ourselves everyday" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/24). In Cleveland, Terry Pluto wrote the Cavs "believed they just couldn't wait for Blatt to adapt or the players to fully accept him." Only winning a title will "deliver a definite answer" as to whether the team "did the right thing by firing Blatt" (CLEVELAND.com, 1/23).

COACHES WEIGH IN: In Denver, Christopher Dempsey wrote the downside to having a star player is "getting on the bad side of him -- or never connecting with him (or them) at all." Dempsey: "Disconnectedness got Blatt fired." Nuggets coach Michael Malone: "You could be winning -- 30-11 -- and get fired, because, is your owner happy, are your fans happy, is your GM happy, are your players happy?" But Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said, "We have no idea why it happened, but there's no explanation that can include that he didn't meet expectations in terms of winning. There's absolutely no way to even make a flimsy case, let alone a solid one" (DENVER POST, 1/24). CBSSPORTS.com's James Herbert wrote it has "been obvious for a few years that a good record is not enough to save your job." To coaches, that "must be alarming" (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/23). Kings coach George Karl said of Blatt's dismissal, "Embarrassing, tragedy. It seems like coaches have more ability now to get fired if they win or if they don’t exceed expectations. Losing coaches don’t get fired. ... I’m mystified." He added, "It’s a sad, sad day for coaches" (SACBEE.com, 1/23). Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, who serves as President of the NBA Coaches Association, said, "It's a shocker. It's just a real shocker. ... If you look at his record, this is bizarre, but he has the second-best coaching record (percentage-wise) of all time in the NBA behind Phil Jackson." He added, "I'm embarrassed for our league that something like this could happen" (DALLASNEWS.com, 1/22). Clippers coach and Senior VP/Basketball Operations Doc Rivers said of Blatt, "He had the most scrutinized job that you could possibly have. I think the reward for coaching LeBron is you get scrutinized. It really is. It’s hard" (NEWSDAY, 1/23).

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