Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and new GM Chris Grant were so muddled in their explanation of how decisions were made -- in the end, it seemed no one made them.
While new Cavaliers GM Chris Grant and owner Dan Gilbert said most of the right things in Tuesday's press conference, there were enough odd notes to catch Terry Pluto's attention.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles while listening to the Cavs' press conference on Tuesday...
1. Perhaps new General Manager Chris Grant will have the usual authority that you expect from a general manager -- namely, the main voice in basketball decisions. It would be the same basic responsibility that former GM Danny Ferry had. But owner Dan Gilbert and Grant were so muddled in their explanation of how decisions were made -- in the end, it seemed no one made them.
2. You want input from key people before making a trade, signing a free agent or hiring a coach. Yes, a variety of educated opinions are valued. But in the end, someone makes the final decision. The owner has to approve moves for financial reasons, but no team can be run by a committee and expect to have success.
3. Grant has to know this. He spent 10 years in several positions with the Hawks, and the last five as Ferry's assistant. In every organization, either the head coach or the GM has the strongest voice in major basketball decisions. You can insist that everyone just reaches a consensus, but can that actually happen every time? Not in the real world.
4. Grant said: "The way we operate and the culture we've established, we work together to make the right decision. It doesn't matter if it is my idea or Dan's idea or the coach's idea. We're going to work together and challenge one another and have deep conversations to make the best decision. Whether it is a trade or free agency or draft pick. And we're going to move together as we go through the process. It isn't a situation where this person is going to have final say or that person is going to have final say. That's virtually impossible and that's not how we've operated for the last five years."
5. Gilbert said: "Within the front office with [assistant GM] Lance Blanks and Chris and Danny when he was here, they worked together. It is has always been a team approach."
6. It may be, but someone has to be the captain. Why not just say that Grant will have the usual responsibility that you'd expect from a general manager? At some point, someone has the final say, no matter how the Cavs talk around that issue.
7. The good news is Gilbert seems understand that a coach can't run the operation. "I don't see that happening at all. The head coach -- of course they'll always have opinion -- we want a coach who will coach and get this franchise over the hump."
8. If Michigan State's Tom Izzo does accept the job, it is imperative that he understands his limitations when it comes to picking pro talent. He has been a career college coach, he'll need Grant and the scouts to guide him through the draft, free agency, etc. Gilbert seems to know that, which is positive.
9. Gilbert also said: "The concept that LeBron James has been involved in any way, shape or form of firing our head coach, involved in the transition of our general manager, or will be involved in future of coaching decisions or hires is totally and patently false. ... It is unfair to him, it is unfair to the franchise."
10. Suppose James had publicly (or even in private) said that he believed Mike Brown should remain at coach? Do you think he would be fired? James' silence on the subject of Brown spoke loud and clear.
11. Gilbert also said: "Nor has [James] been involved heavily in past major trades. He's a basketball player and a great one and he his interests are aligned with ours. The concept that this franchise has been handed to a player who is running it an making the decision is completely false. He'll tell you that, Chris will tell you that, I'll tell you that. The truth is the truth."
12. I'm glad Gilbert said "heavily involved" in trades. In many NBA franchises, key players are asked about people who may be acquired in deals. It's also not uncommon for key players to be told, "We are considering these three guys as coach, is there anyone on the list who is a big problem for you?" Sometimes, this communication is done between a representative of the team and the player's agent or someone close to the player.
13. This is not to say the Cavs looked overmatched or disorganized in their press conference. The promotion of Grant was overwhelmed by all the Izzo rumors, and that seemed to have them off message. They could have done a better job of explaining what Grant will do in his new position.