Updated: Chris Grant fired as GM of Cavaliers
2014-02-06
Multiple media outlets have reported that according to “league sources,” Dan Gilbert has fired Chris Grant as the General Manager of the Cavs. Andrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo.com comments, here.
Gilbert had grown increasingly frustrated with the losing and dysfunction within the Cavaliers and the loss to the Lakers – who finished the game with four eligible players – was the breaking point…
The Plain Dealer counters, that the Cavaliers have yet to confirm the firing. We will update as news filters in.
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Update (2:06pm): Team sources confirm that Grant has been fired and assistant GM David Griffin has been promoted to Acting General Manager. https://twitter.com/PDcavsinsider/status/431503723618390016
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Update (2:24pm): Cavs release statements from Dan Gilbert. Some of the statements have been reprinted below.
This has been a very difficult period for the franchise. We have severely underperformed against expectations. Just as this is completely unacceptable to our loyal and passionate fan base, season ticket holders and corporate partners, it is also just as unacceptable to our ownership group. I can assure everyone who supports and cares about the Cleveland Cavaliers that we will continue to turn over every stone and explore every possible opportunity for improvement to shift the momentum of our franchise in the right direction. There is no one in our entire organization who is satisfied with our performance, and to say that we are disappointed is an understatement. We all know the great potential of our young talent, seasoned veterans, as well as our recent all-star addition. We believe a change in leadership was necessary to establish the best possible culture and environment for our entire team to flourish.
There is no move, nor any amount of capital investment, we will not make if we believe it will improve our chances of competing and winning in this league for both the short and long term. The fans of this great city have invested too much time, money and effort for the kind of product we have recently delivered to them. This must change.
Also, Jason Lloyd gives us statements from Chris Grant.
My entire focus the past eight years has been on trying to build a team that can contend and win and provide Cleveland fans the success that they deserve… I have a tremendous appreciation for the players that are here and the coaches that I have worked with, as well as our front office. I thank them for all of their dedication and commitment to the Cavaliers.
“He may have made some poor choices, especially regarding how pieces fit, but I can’t shake the feeling that he did mostly good things and has had a string of bad luck at the wrong time.”
Couldn’t agree more. You are often a voice of reason, Tom. We would be good Cavs friends.
@zeek A lot of us wanted Beal for the fit standpoint. I like Dion. He’s my favorite Cav. It just doesn’t seem like it’s gonna work out unless they see a marriage councilor or something. Maybe Kyrie and Dion can have a loser leaves town fight at the last home game (Dion -250). Beal seems to accept his role better than Dion. I’m fine with them keeping the pups together through the rest of the season and letting the new GM decide who doesn’t fit before he moves any of them.
In one of Terry Pluto’s better columns: “He also said the team “had a lot of talent.” If that’s the case, he fired the guy who put together the talent (Grant) but is keeping the guy who can’t seem to convince them to play even close to their potential?” We can debate what Grant did right and wrong forever, but what has Brown done right? Actually, the best thing Brown has done so far is not putting the starters back in at the end last night. I will be impressed if he starts the Friday game with the lineup that… Read more »
Doesn’t Beal shoot like 20 times a game though and not make a lot of them. Pretty sure that’s why I traded him for Kyle Korver and Spencer Hawes in fantasy.
@Cory
I think a lot of us had hoped that we would end up getting Beal to pair with Kyrie. It’s not just you who thinks that despite the fact that they’re similar value players, that Beal would be a much better fit next to Kyrie.