Has a finals team imploded like this since the Bulls?

[Moranis]

its a total head scratcher to me that they let the GM go. I mean, what did he do wrong exactly?

and replacing him w Chauncey Billups?? great player and seems like a nice guy but um, he has zero experience. how is that going to inspire lebron to stick around?

i agree its looking doubtful over there right now, but why would Gilbert sabotage his team like this? maybe he doesn't want to keep paying the highest luxury tax etc, now that a championship has been had?

Griffin supposedly wanted 7 million a year and complete control to make all decisions.  Neither of those things was he going to get from Gilbert.

Ha, LeBron's buddies all got paid, he figured he might as well too.

$7m doesn't seem bad though, especially not for somebody who was the GM of a championship team.  According to this article from last year, Griffin was the 5th highest paid GM at $5.8m, a bump to $7m seems fair.

Now about that complete control part lol.

yeah, w the way the moneys going around the league soon the mascots will be demanding at leat 1 mil/ year

seems silly to let go of a championship level GM while your team has a once in a lifetime superstar on board.

glad our owners aren't like this guy.

the articles I had seen before that one said Griffin was making something like 2 million a year, no where near 5.8 million.  I'd be curious what he was actually making.

[celticsclay]

The Cavs aren't imploding, at least not yet.  Their general manager whose contract was up was not retained.  That isn't imploding.  Now sure if all of these magical things happen, none of which is very likely, then sure implosion would be the correct term, but those things haven't happened and don't really seem all that likely.  Well trading Love may happen, but it will be to bring in Butler or George, which many would see as an upgrade.

You were on record saying there was no way Lebron would leave Cleveland again unless it was go play with his son for one year at the end of his career about 2 weeks ago. Is that still how you feel?

Depends how this season goes.  James clearly doesn't like Gilbert and Gilbert has given him an out (because James liked Griffin and what Griffin was able to do a great deal), but if the season goes well, I still think James stays in Cleveland.

Sounds more like you are wishing than being realistic about what is happening. This actually all started before Griffin was let go (with a story leaked that his inner circle and family members never forgave Gilbert for the letter)

Now it is really picking up steam. How do you imagine Gilbert and Lebron coexist for years with all this happening? Also what is going well? Him beating the Warriors somehow?

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/news/lebron-james-nba-free-agency-rumors-cavs-news-owner-dan-gilbert-gm-david-griffin/1rcrxx82twz9v10i55x5eeur4w

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/06/20/lebron-james-dan-gilbert-david-griffin-cavaliers-2018-free-agency

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/06/20/lebron-james-dan-gilbert-david-griffin-cavaliers-2018-free-agency

[Moranis]

The Cavs aren't imploding, at least not yet.  Their general manager whose contract was up was not retained.  That isn't imploding.  Now sure if all of these magical things happen, none of which is very likely, then sure implosion would be the correct term, but those things haven't happened and don't really seem all that likely.  Well trading Love may happen, but it will be to bring in Butler or George, which many would see as an upgrade.

You were on record saying there was no way Lebron would leave Cleveland again unless it was go play with his son for one year at the end of his career about 2 weeks ago. Is that still how you feel?

Depends how this season goes.  James clearly doesn't like Gilbert and Gilbert has given him an out (because James liked Griffin and what Griffin was able to do a great deal), but if the season goes well, I still think James stays in Cleveland.

Sounds more like you are wishing than being realistic about what is happening. This actually all started before Griffin was let go (with a story leaked that his inner circle and family members never forgave Gilbert for the letter)

Now it is really picking up steam. How do you imagine Gilbert and Lebron coexist for years with all this happening? Also what is going well? Him beating the Warriors somehow?

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/news/lebron-james-nba-free-agency-rumors-cavs-news-owner-dan-gilbert-gm-david-griffin/1rcrxx82twz9v10i55x5eeur4w

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/06/20/lebron-james-dan-gilbert-david-griffin-cavaliers-2018-free-agency

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/06/20/lebron-james-dan-gilbert-david-griffin-cavaliers-2018-free-agency

Those articles are talking about the out I was referring to.

Going well, is the Cavs making moves to better the team without regard to cost.  If they close the deal and win, that would obviously seal the deal, but I don't think the Cavs have to win the title to keep James in town and frankly I think they could win the title and James still might leave if him and Gilbert can't see eye to eye.  Gilbert has always been the problem in Cleveland.  He will spend money with the best of them, but he meddles.  I think an apt comparison is Dan Snyder (the Redskins owner). 

If Gilbert and James mend the fences, James will stay.  If not, James will leave.  But that is all a year away.  The Cavs are certainly not imploding right now because their GM left.  I mean Red Auerbach stopped coaching the Celtics, they didn't implode.  Then he retired as GM and they didn't implode.

[Donoghus]

its a total head scratcher to me that they let the GM go. I mean, what did he do wrong exactly?

and replacing him w Chauncey Billups?? great player and seems like a nice guy but um, he has zero experience. how is that going to inspire lebron to stick around?

i agree its looking doubtful over there right now, but why would Gilbert sabotage his team like this? maybe he doesn't want to keep paying the highest luxury tax etc, now that a championship has been had?

Griffin supposedly wanted 7 million a year and complete control to make all decisions.  Neither of those things was he going to get from Gilbert.

Ha, LeBron's buddies all got paid, he figured he might as well too.

$7m doesn't seem bad though, especially not for somebody who was the GM of a championship team.  According to this article from last year, Griffin was the 5th highest paid GM at $5.8m, a bump to $7m seems fair.

Now about that complete control part lol.

yeah, w the way the moneys going around the league soon the mascots will be demanding at leat 1 mil/ year

seems silly to let go of a championship level GM while your team has a once in a lifetime superstar on board.

glad our owners aren't like this guy.

Isn't that how we lost the original Lucky?

[liam]

its a total head scratcher to me that they let the GM go. I mean, what did he do wrong exactly?

and replacing him w Chauncey Billups?? great player and seems like a nice guy but um, he has zero experience. how is that going to inspire lebron to stick around?

i agree its looking doubtful over there right now, but why would Gilbert sabotage his team like this? maybe he doesn't want to keep paying the highest luxury tax etc, now that a championship has been had?

Griffin supposedly wanted 7 million a year and complete control to make all decisions.  Neither of those things was he going to get from Gilbert.

Ha, LeBron's buddies all got paid, he figured he might as well too.

$7m doesn't seem bad though, especially not for somebody who was the GM of a championship team.  According to this article from last year, Griffin was the 5th highest paid GM at $5.8m, a bump to $7m seems fair.

Now about that complete control part lol.

yeah, w the way the moneys going around the league soon the mascots will be demanding at leat 1 mil/ year

seems silly to let go of a championship level GM while your team has a once in a lifetime superstar on board.

glad our owners aren't like this guy.

Isn't that how we lost the original Lucky?

I thought Danny traded the original lucky for a second pick in 2033!

[Donoghus]

its a total head scratcher to me that they let the GM go. I mean, what did he do wrong exactly?

and replacing him w Chauncey Billups?? great player and seems like a nice guy but um, he has zero experience. how is that going to inspire lebron to stick around?

i agree its looking doubtful over there right now, but why would Gilbert sabotage his team like this? maybe he doesn't want to keep paying the highest luxury tax etc, now that a championship has been had?

Griffin supposedly wanted 7 million a year and complete control to make all decisions.  Neither of those things was he going to get from Gilbert.

Ha, LeBron's buddies all got paid, he figured he might as well too.

$7m doesn't seem bad though, especially not for somebody who was the GM of a championship team.  According to this article from last year, Griffin was the 5th highest paid GM at $5.8m, a bump to $7m seems fair.

Now about that complete control part lol.

yeah, w the way the moneys going around the league soon the mascots will be demanding at leat 1 mil/ year

seems silly to let go of a championship level GM while your team has a once in a lifetime superstar on board.

glad our owners aren't like this guy.

Isn't that how we lost the original Lucky?

I thought Danny traded the original lucky for a second pick in 2033!

From my vague recollection of events, it was some combo of outlandish "Do you know who I am?" salary demands and that he allegedly keyed Coach Willie Maye's car.

Ah, those were the days.