"Once I heard the news, I shifted to the next gear,'' Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant said. "That includes figuring out how to spend $12 million in cap space.''
Cavs General Manager Chris Grant, left, and new head coach Byron Scott are scheduled to appear at a news conference at the team's practice facility in Independence at 1 p.m. today. This photo is from the press conference a week ago today announcing Scott's hiring.UPDATED: 1:30 p.m. as press conference ends
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- On the first day of the rest of their lives without LeBron James, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant and coach Byron Scott met with the media this afternoon at the Cleveland Clinic Courts.
"We're moving forward,'' Grant said. "Our goals remain the same."
Grant said he and Scott believed in their team. "We'll go battle anyone,'' he said.
Grant thanked the fans for their support and supported owner Dan Gilbert, who was critical of James in an open letter to fans after James announced he was going to Miami in a nationally televised program on ESPN Thursday night.
"Dan's owned the team for five years,'' Grant said. "I think he's earned the right to voice his opinion. I give the guy a lot of credit.''
Grant would not criticize James today.
"Once I heard the news, I shifted to the next gear,'' Grant said. "That includes figuring out how to spend $12 million in cap space.''
In looking back, Grant said, "I wouldn't have done anything differently.''
Grant said he was disappointed James elected to leave, but said he had not spoken with James and really didn't want to talk any more about him. He did leave open the possibility of a sign-and-trade with the Heat in order to net some assets for the Cavs, an option the Cavs had pretty much opposed before the decision was announced.
Grant also said no decision had been reached on releasing guard Delonte West, although to reach $12 million in cap space, that move would have to be made.
Scott, who described himself as ''old-school with a new-school twist'', called the entire process "different.'' "I never thought I'd probably see anything like this in my lifetime.''
Scott dismissed national reports declaring the James-less Cavs all but irrelevant.
"It doesn't bother me, it motivates me,'' Scott said. "We're going to use that to our advantage."