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Cavaliers Part Ways With GM David Griffin After Three Straight Finals Appearances

David Griffin is leaving as Cavaliers GM after "three consecutive Finals appearances in his only years on the job," according to Joe Vardon of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. Griffin's contract was set to expire at the end of the month, and he and Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert "decided to part ways mutually." Gilbert last week indicated that he was "happy with the direction of the franchise after the Cavs had lost to the Warriors in the Finals." However, the team now "seems in the midst of a sizable shakeup." Griffin yesterday was "involved in organizational meetings pertaining to the NBA Draft Thursday and trades." As the day "wore on, Griffin and Gilbert came to the realization that they were not on the same page and wouldn't get there." Sources said that Cavaliers F LeBron James and "his inner circle were not consulted about Griffin's dismissal or departure," but they were "notified by Gilbert once a decision was made." Vardon notes Griffin was "furious with Gilbert for not extending his contract last summer ... and was seeking a raise and structural changes to the organization." Cavaliers Assistant GM Trent Redden also will not return after his contract expires on June 30. ESPN NBA analyst Chauncey Billups has "eyed the potential opening in Cleveland, though he has no front-office experience." Sources said that he was "working behind the scenes to put himself in front of Cleveland power brokers during games 3 and 4 of the Finals" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/20).  In Akron, Marla Ridenour notes the Cavs have "had four GMs since" Gilbert bought the team in '05. The "shocking move" yesterday only "added more questions to an offseason of uncertainty" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 6/20). 

REVOLVING DOOR: USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt reports Griffin, who was "among the lowest paid GMs in the league, wanted a larger salary and more power within all aspects of the franchise, and he knew he might not get what he wanted." He "understood not returning was a strong possibility and was prepared to spend a season without a front-office job." Griffin will be a "sought-after candidate for the next batch of top-level front-office jobs that open." The Cavs this spring denied multiple teams "permission to talk to Griffin" about front-office openings. Griffin during his tenure in Cleveland had an "ability to read a situation and make the right moves, and players respected him for that" (USA TODAY, 6/20). ESPN's Brian Windhorst noted observers "thought common sense was going to prevail," but Gilbert and Griffin "really viewed things very differently." Griffin "wanted to get taken care of," as he was "one of the lowest-paid general managers in the league." Meanwhile, Gilbert is someone who has "never valued general managers." Windhorst: “Dan Gilbert has set the precedent that he doesn't think the general manager is a position that is to be valued" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 6/20). ESPN's Windhorst & McMenamin note Gilbert during his ownership "has yet to come to an agreement" with any GM "on a contract extension." A source said that the Cavs are currently "being run by a conglomeration" of Assistant GM/Pro Personnel Koby Altman, Senior Dir of Strategic Planning Brock Aller, Dir of Basketball Administration & Team Counsel Tony Leotti, Dir of Analytics Jon Nichols and the Cavs' G League affiliate Canton Charge GM Mike Gansey. The source added that Gilbert also is "very engaged" in the Cavs' business right now as they prepare for the Draft and field potential trade opportunities (ESPN.com, 6/20).

DAN IN REAL LIFE
: In Cleveland, Chris Fedor notes the logic behind the Cavs parting ways with Griffin "still remains sketchy" and the timing "couldn't be worse." But Gilbert's "history of devaluing GM's seemed to be pointing to this perplexing outcome." This was "always a possibility and members of the front office knew that." Fedor: "Pick a word. Baffling. Worrying. Puzzling. Disconcerting. Maddening. Gilbert's decision is all of the above." Gilbert has "done this before with GM's, but this time he's waving goodbye to one with unprecedented success" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/20). ESPN's Dave McMenamin said fans "have to wonder" about Gilbert's priorities, as this is "such an important time for the franchise." McMenamin: "There's a lot of confusion right now and really for what should be the most exciting time in Cavs' franchise history: Three straight finals appearances, the one-year anniversary of the only championship this team has ever won. Instead, we're talking about a team in disarray” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 6/20). ESPN's Mike Golic said Gilbert comes off looking like an owner "trying to do too much, an owner trying to be too involved, an owner not letting his people do what they need to do." ESPN's Mike Greenberg: "Dan Gilbert is running the show, and he can do that, except he can't. ... Find me an example of an owner doing it this way and it working. It’s extraordinarily rare." He added the situation "is a mess” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 6/20).

James had publicly endorsed Griffin
in recent months as the team's GM
WHAT DOES LEBRON THINK? The PLAIN DEALER's Vardon notes Griffin's departure was "a shock" to James. A source close to James said, "LeBron's a player, Dan's the boss, this was Dan's decision." But the source added, "LeBron does care about what the roster looks like" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/20). The AP's Tom Withers noted with Griffin gone, the Cavaliers "enter a critical juncture without a seasoned executive making the calls." The Cavs will "try to improve their roster this summer" as James "enters his final season under contract" (AP, 6/19). YAHOO SPORTS' Eric Freeman writes it "remains to be seen if this situation affects LeBron’s desire to remain in Cleveland." But with Griffin's departure, the chances of James "leaving town for the second time seem greater than they did a few days ago" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/20). SI.com's Golliver notes by refusing to re-sign Griffin, Gilbert "just gave James the perfect cover story if he wants to bail for LA or parts unknown next summer. Golliver: "This one can’t be swept under the rug." Not when James "publicly endorsed Griffin in recent months" (SI.com, 6/20).

TIME FOR MR. BIG SHOT?
 THE VERTICAL's Adrian Wojnarowski cited sources as saying that Gilbert is "targeting" Billups to "become the franchise’s president of basketball operations." Sources said that Billups would then hire a GM with the "day-to-day front office experience that he doesn’t have on his résumé." Billups has a "strong relationship with Gilbert and Cavaliers coach Ty Lue." Billups "recently interviewed" for the Hawks GM job and his "strong reputation as a leader has moved him into consideration to become a front-office executive" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/19). THE RINGER's Paolo Uggetti wrote Billups "certainly has the clout to hold a front-office position, and it has been expected that he would move into a front office, sooner rather than later." But "talk about a franchise to make your debut with." The "pressure will be on immediately, on Billups and Gilbert" (THERINGER.com, 6/19). SI.com's Ben Golliver writes, "There is no time for a first-timer like Billups to learn on the job or get up to speed." Griffin’s replacement will "face immediate and unrelenting pressure to keep pace with Golden State and appease James, but ultimately the blame for any managerial shortcomings will be passed up the chain to Gilbert" (SI.com, 6/20). 

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