JUNE 21, 12:15pm: Billups has a second meeting with the Cavaliers today, tweets Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com.
JUNE 19, 10:59pm: Billups will meet with Gilbert on Tuesday, Windhorst tweets.
8:41pm: Billups is the top target to become President of Basketball Operations, Wojnarowski tweets.
7:59pm: Gilbert didn’t consult with LeBron James on the decision to let Griffin leave, even though James stated Griffin should receive an extension, Windhorst tweets.
7:01pm: GM David Griffin and the Cavaliers will part ways, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com tweets. Griffin, whose contract expires at the end of the month, was unable to reach an agreement for an extension. The club has issued a statement confirming that the two parties have mutually agreed that Griffin won’t remain with the organization, Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press tweets.
Griffin, who was making less than $2MM annually, met with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert last week. But the two sides were unable to come to terms. Griffin removed himself from consideration when it was clear that he and Gilbert weren’t on the same page regarding the team’s future plans, Dave McMenamin of ESPN tweets.
Former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, currently a commentator with ESPN, is expected to emerge as a candidate, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical tweets. Billups is a close friend of Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue, which might help Billups’ candidacy. Billups also has a relationship with Gilbert and will also be considered for the title of President of Basketball Operations, who will hire the GM, Wojnarowski adds in another tweet.
Griffin won’t be lacking for job offers as multiple teams will pursue him during the next round of GM openings, according to Wojnarowski. Trade talks were being hampered because of Griffin’s iffy status, Wojnarowski adds. (Twitter links).
Assistant GM Trent Redden is also losing his job, David Aldridge of NBA.com tweets.
The Cavs are pursuing complex blockbuster deals for either Pacers swingman Paul George and the Bulls’ Jimmy Butler. Griffin’s departure in the short run could hamper those efforts as Gilbert searches for Griffin’s replacement.
Players are ring chasing in suits. Love it
Chauncey already has a ring though lol.
You can chase a ring even though you already have one. Ray Allen chased a ring when he signed with the Heat after he won with the Celtics already.
You’re crazy. Players don’ get any props for getting a ring without being a player. Billups has a strong relationship with Gilbert and Lue so it makes sense.
Brilliant move by Cleveland… I mean we all saw how highly sought after Billups was this offseason. I just don’t get it. Why and why wait so long.
Billups has a basketball mind, he would make the right moves.
I assume LeBron will retain his position as President of Basketball Operations?
If he has a basketball mind why is Cleveland the only team to have chased this guy? Or is Cleveland such an outside the box organization that it knows more than anyone else? This is like them firing the coach with the best record in the East and replacing him with Lue. Replace a really good GM with someone who you hope can do it.
He would be a puppet just like Lue has been since Day 1. 23 runs that franchise top to bottom…err 2nd place to bottom.
Doubt Lebron makes Chauncey his puppet.
LBJ certainly influences the franchise (much the same way Magic did when he got Paul Westhead fired) but the fact that Griffin, a LBJ guy, was fired w/o being informed shows that he doesn’t “run” the organization.
Where did you see a “chase”? Gilbert knows Billups because he spent so much time in Detroit prior to purchasing the Cavs. There’s no chase. I assume they’ve spoken previously about this happening and now he did it. I can’t say it’s a better move than keeping Griffin but we simply don’t know.
I will say this. Let’s look at this. What moves did Griffin do that no other GM would’ve or could’ve done? That’s not to besmirch his reputation. At first my thoughts were, “What the hell are you doing Dan Gilbert” but we really don’t know what the reported “franchise direction” the two sides were at odds over. What we do know is that Gilbert, on two occasions was willing to go wayyyy over the salary cap. The 1st time we had LBJ and this current era. If the rumors are that LBJ is leaving next year, if that is predetermined, then it’ll be the second time he was left with a bloated payroll and not necessarily a team deserving of it. But Gilbert has given LBJ everything he wanted in players acquired via trade and draft (Kay Felder) and given in to overpaying for two of LBJ/Rich Paul clients (Tristan and JR Smith).
Can you “LeBron is the GM” people crawl back into your holes now? The dude he wanted back isn’t being retained. Obviously you guys have overstated his influence
this feels like just another reason for lebron to hate gilbert and a slap in the face
Mary Mother of Jesus!! Gilbert knows more about basketball than Griffen? Chauncey Phillips to become president of operations? No disrespect to Billups but Wwhhhatt? Can you say Ted Stepian boys and girls?
You ok there buddy?
Just fine. Purposely exaggerating my dismay. But Gilbert way off on this one. Griffin had s rare type of people skill that worked greatly to Cavaliers advantage. He made some deals here that other GMs couldn’t because of his reputation, relationships in the league circles and astute knowledge of the damned salary cap loopholes. Billups might be the greatest friend Lue ever had and may be greatly desired by Gilbert, but he’s not a front office guy with a track record. Ted Stepian once decimated the Cavs so much, the friggin NBA literally gave extra first round draft picks to the Cavs new owner to help get Stepian out of there. There’s still the “Stepian” rule today not allowing trading of consecutive 1st round picks. And I feel squandering the relationship and momentum we had with Griffin in charge is as bad as the idiot Stepian way of running a team.
fake it till you make it
Look we all know Lebron runs everything. Bill ups just like Lue will be a puppet
No
Billups is one of my all time favorite players to watch. Dude controlled the court. Maybe he can control this mess of a front office. LeBron has been calling the shots because Gilbert and Griffin r both jokes
That’s why LeBron called for them to extend Griffin, but they didn’t. What’s your conspiracy for that?
Was he really a GM anyways with Lebron crying for all the changes and players acquired and or signed smh