• Cavaliers Part Ways With GM Griffin; Team May Be Pursuing Billups
• NBA Kings President Chris Granger Leaving Team For "Big Opportunity"
• Judge Denies Injunction To Block Funding For Pistons' Move Downtown
• NBA Formally Rebrands D-League Into NBA G League As Of Today

David Griffin's tenure as Cavaliers GM is "ending after three consecutive Finals appearances in his only years on the job," as he and team Owner Dan Gilbert have "decided to part ways mutually." Sources said that 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" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/20). Cavaliers Senior VP/Basketball Operations Trent Redden "also will leave the organization." Both Griffin and Redden's contracts were "up at the end of the month." In his 12-plus years owning the team, Gilbert "has yet to come to an agreement" with any GM on a contract extension (ESPN.com, 6/19).

Meanwhile, ESPN NBA analyst Chauncey Billups and the Cavaliers have "mutual interest in a front-office role," according to sources. They are "expected to meet" today. Billups has had a relationship with Gilbert for "more than a decade since Billups endorsed Rock Financial, Gilbert's Detroit-based mortgage company," when he played for the Pistons. Billups also is "close with Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue" (ESPN.com, 6/19).

NBA Kings President Chris Granger is leaving the organization after joining the team in '13. Granger, who previously led the NBA's team marketing and business operations division, does not yet have a new job. “I’m leaving to look for a new, big opportunity,” he said. “I’d like to do something with multiple teams with a global focus and with an ability to impact a region. Broadly, I want to do something impactful and honestly, something bigger than what I am doing now.”

The Kings said that the management team will be led by COO Matina Kolokotronis, with CFO John Rinehart promoted to President of Business Operations, effective immediately. Granger will remain with the team for one month through a transition period.

A federal judge late yesterday denied an emergency injunction that "sought to block millions in public funding" for Little Caesars Arena and the Pistons' move downtown, saying that it "could have caused 'catastrophic damage' to the city." In his opinion, Judge Mark Goldsmith said that the plaintiffs "ultimately failed to establish why an emergency injunction was needed." The decision came hours after a city attorney argued that the "lawsuit would effectively 'kill the project.'" The suit was filed by activist Robert Davis and City Clerk candidate D. Etta Wilcoxon, who feel the project "should not be funded with public money without Detroit residents voting on it" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/20).

The NBA today is officially rebranding its D-League into the NBA G League as part of Gatorade’s entitlement deal. The rebranding includes a new NBAGLeague.com website, an updated app and updated social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. G League merchandise is now available at NBAGLeagueStore.com. Expected in the next few weeks is a new leaguewide marketing campaign, rollout of new uniforms and a collaboration with the Gatorade Sports Science Institute focusing on player performance and recovery. Next year, the G-League will have 26 teams, four more than last season. Of those teams, 22 next season will be owned and operated by NBA franchises.

The NBA runs a full-page ad in USA Today to announce the transition: "See The NBA's Future, Now." 

MLB today will announce that it "plans to encourage players – primarily those in the minors – looking to slide into a career or earn a degree to take their classes" through Northeastern Univ. The deal is the "first of its type between MLB and a university," and it marks an "attempt by professional baseball to ensure that team education funds are used at schools with strong academic programs that properly prepare students for work." The agreement "won’t prevent players from attending the college of their choice" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/20).

TPC at River Highlands yesterday hosted the Opening Day ceremonies of the PGA Tour Travelers Championship, and the event was "bittersweet" as it "centered around the Memorial Garden which was dedicated to the memory" of Jay Fishman. The late Travelers CEO died of ALS shortly after the '16 tournament. Speakers "extolled the contributions Fishman made to the tournament," and a plaque memorializing him was unveiled (MIDDLETOWN PRESS, 6/20). PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Tournament Dir Nathan Grube, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, Travelers CEO Alan Schnitzer and Travelers Exec VP & Chief Administrative Officer Andy Bessette "spoke about Fishman at the dedication" (HARTFORD COURANT, 6/20).

The NWHL has signed a partnership with Twitter to globally stream games. The deal for the '17-18 season will include 19 games, which will feature 16 "Twitter NWHL Game of the Week" broadcasts, the '18 NWHL All-Star Game and two games from the NWHL-Team Russia Summit Series. The games will be produced by the league and will be exclusive to Twitter in the live windows. The streams will be available for free on Twitter via the league's @NWHL handle, or at NWHL.twitter.com.

Both sides will also collaborate on marketing and promotion of the league and broadcasts, which will include advertising packages with TV-style ad spots during the streaming. The NWHL is the second pro women's sports league to stream on the platform, following Twitter's previously announced deal with the WNBA.

NBCSN starting today airs its first Royal Ascot horse racing meet, "perhaps the most prestigious event on the international racing calendar." The five-day event in England "features 30 races, eight with Group 1 status." The net will have "only one host, Nick Luck, and two cameras on site," and it will rely "mostly on ITV’s world feed and segments produced in conjunction with Ascot." NBC Sports will highlight the "arrival each day" of Queen Elizabeth II in a "horse-drawn carriage from Windsor Castle." NBCSN will televise live each day from 8:30am-1:00pm ET, and NBC's “Today” show will "showcase the royal procession" at 9:00am (N.Y. TIMES, 6/20).

The Nationals are hosting "Game of Thrones" Night on Friday against the Reds, and they are rolling out tie-ins to the popular HBO show throughout the week. The team "will hide 10 prize-filled 'dragon eggs' in D.C., Maryland and Virginia." A "Westeros-themed map" posted on the Nats' social channels and in The Washington Post Express this morning will "guide fans to the eggs." They contain a "Nationals and 'Game of Thrones' co-branded T-shirt, two tickets to Friday’s game and a fast-pass to pose for a photo on the 800-pound Iron Throne that will be located in the Right Field Plaza." The T-shirts also will be given out to the "first 20,000 people through the gates" Friday (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/19).

The Frisco (Texas) City Council today will be "asked to vote on a plan to sell 3.7 acres of city-owned land" for Stars Owner Tom Gaglardi's proposed 300-room hotel. The land would be sold to Northlands Developments Texas for the "development of a Sutton Place hotel." The Sutton Place brand is part of Gaglardi's Sandman Hotel Group (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/20).

ESPN this week is celebrating the 45th anniversary of Title IX with cross-platform content across TV, digital and radio, including a 24-hour marathon of live and classic programming across ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN Classic on Friday (ESPN).

The A's drew a crowd of 10,482 for yesterday's home game against the Astros, the "third smallest attendance count of the year for the A's" at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. That marks a "big comedown after topping the 30,000 mark for three straight days" against the Yankees (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 6/20).

Rolex runs a full-page ad in the N.Y. Times congratulating golfer Brooks Koepka for winning the U.S. Open: "Historic!" (THE DAILY).

"Conor is not a boxer, just a show. If you want to watch a show please watch them, if you want to watch a true fight, a true boxing fight and you respect boxing, watch my fight" – Gennady Golovkin, promoting his boxing match with Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 16 over the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Conor McGregor fight slated for Aug. 26 (REUTERS, 6/20).

"The time between the NBA Finals and the draft and free agency is a really tight window. ... You learn how to move within the structure but, selfishly, I wish there was a little more time" – Warriors GM & President of Basketball Operations Bob Myers (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/20).

"As far as clothes, I always just wanted to own a suit. I feel like every man should own a suit. Doesn’t matter who it‘s from, I always wanted to own a suit. Now I have probably more than 40 in my closet. I have too many" – Pelicans C Anthony Davis, on the one thing he was able to buy once he made it to the NBA (SI.com, 6/19).

"Claiming the conference as the ‘Power 6,’ I’m not a fan of that at all. The reality is with the College Football Playoff, there’s a contract with nine more years on it. For him to anoint them as the Power 6, it’s a little early for that" – Nevada AD Doug Knuth, on AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco's effort to make the league a power conference (RGJ.com, 6/19).

The SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS goes with the header, "Why Would Any Team Go To The White House, Ever?" No matter "who’s president, it’s a bad idea – and a superfluous staged photo op show."

Under the header "Putting The Future In Focus: The Blueprint For Baseball In 20 Years," ESPN.com writes, "We asked 12 people in baseball, including managers, general managers, players and umpires, and this is their collaborative projection/guess on what the game will look like, not should look like, in 2037."

Also: 

• Colin Kaepernick deserves "new consideration" in this political climate.
• Why Dick Honig is the "Phil Knight of the ref clothing business."
• New UNLV AD Desiree Reed-Francois starts job living in dorm.

#Hawks say $192.5M Philips Arena renovation "set to begin" today. Arena is closed for about next four months. https://t.co/iCJn7qegSf

— AJC Stadium (@ajcstadium) June 20, 2017

If no one appreciated you Griff I did, and hopefully all the people of Cleveland! Thanks for what u did for the team for 3 yrs! We got us 1🏆

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 20, 2017

I’ve never met David Griffin, but he has one of the absolute best reps in NBA among other execs as a human. No surprise this is all class. https://t.co/sAySiAqZsO

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) June 20, 2017

There's a strange rumor I'm on trial in Sweden. I am not on trial anywhere I am in DC right now preparing myself for this summer.

— Freddy Adu (@FreddyAdu) June 20, 2017

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com

.@nflcommish Roger Goodell alongside Patriots owner Robert Kraft at the inauguration of the Kraft Family Sports Complex in Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/acOyjzjkn3

— Allon Sinai (@AllonSinai) June 20, 2017

A 3-minute hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Airlines.”

“On June 17, 1929, this airline’s first passenger flight left Dallas, making stops at Shreveport, Monroe and Jackson.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon noted golfer Brooks Koepka won his first U.S. Open, but there was a "little confusion while he was celebrating.” The broadcast aired footage of Fox’ Joe Buck misidentifying Koepka’s current girlfriend after she congratulated him on winning, calling her the name of Koepka’s recent ex-girlfriend. Fallon then spoke in his "announcer’s voice" and said, “Check that, he actually broke up with Jena on the ninth hole. He has his newest girlfriend, that is Stacy."

Later in the broadcast, Fallon noted a fan sent in an image from an old Royals-Yankees game and he “spotted a shot of two of the players' names.” The names were “Coke” and “Cain” for former Yankees P Phil Coke and Royals CF Lorenzo Cain, with Fallon noting “those two have a lot of energy.” Fallon: “That game was in 10 minutes, the fastest baseball game ever played" ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 6/19).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: "Remember Michael Phelps, the Olympic swimmer who won all those medals because he eats at Subway or something? Next month, as part of ‘Shark Week,’ the Discovery network announced Michael Phelps is going to race a great white shark. How they’re planning to do this I have no idea, but I’m pretty sure the idea for this race was brought to you by Michael Phelps’ bong. But it will be the first time a human has ever attempted to race a great white shark. It’s also the first time a great white shark has eaten a human on television. Who thought this up, Kim Jong Un?” Kimmel: “The shark is said to be taking the race very seriously. I hear it even shaved off all his body hair” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 6/19).

TBS’ Conan O’Brien noted Forbes came out with its list of the 10 highest-paid athletes in the world, and a “number of athletes on the list make more money from endorsements than from their sport.” O’Brien: “They make more money for selling than for playing.” At this point, several audience members who were highly paid "athletes" in their respective sports came forward and talked about their endorsement prowess. Watch the full segment on TEAMCOCO.com ("Conan," TBS, 6/20).

“What is Delta Airlines?”