Now that coach Mike Brown has been fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers, what's next for General Manager Danny Ferry? News-Herald reporter Bob Finnan writes there have been no indications on Ferry's future. His contract expires on June 30. Ferry, writes Finnan, would likely be replaced by Cavs assistant GM Chris Grant. Some observers around the league wondered why Ferry allowed...
Will GM Danny Ferry, left, and owner Danny Gilbert have something to laugh about this summer? Now that coach Mike Brown has been fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers, what's next for General Manager Danny Ferry?
News-Herald reporter Bob Finnan writes there have been no indications on Ferry's future. His contract expires on June 30.
Ferry, writes Finnan, would likely be replaced by Cavs assistant GM Chris Grant.
Some observers around the league wondered why Ferry allowed himself to be so tight with Brown. The answer was easy: The two have been close friends since their days in San Antonio.
They seemed to have the perfect “marriage.” Ferry was able to make suggestions about things on the court. Brown trusted him, which is not always the case in coach-GM relationships.
That’s why Ferry wanted nothing to do with Brown being fired. He apparently signed off on the move, which leads some to believe he’ll remain with the Cavs.
If Ferry stays, he'll have to help solve several issues facing the team, the biggest being signing LeBron James.
If James indicates he’s going to sign elsewhere, the Cavs must enter into sign-and-trade discussions. They can’t afford to allow James to walk and get nothing in return.
They need to find a way to lower payroll and still add talent. Ferry, if retained, would have to find a way to retool on the run, which is difficult, to say the least.
Next move
The Cleveland Cavaliers have plenty to fix to get prepared for next season. Ohio.com's Jason Lloyd writes in his interview with Jeff Van Gundy, how all the right pieces have to be put together.
''The most important factor on any team or organization is you have to have an owner committed to winning, and you have to have a star player who is the right star player,'' ESPN analyst and former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy said. ''That star player has to be responsible, accountable and an absolutely tenacious competitor. There are very few star players who are the right players to win it all. LeBron James is one of those guys.''
Phil, not LeBron
New York Daily News reporter Mitch Lawrence writes that Phil Jackson, not LeBron James, is the best prospective free agent this summer in the NBA.
Lawrence bases this on watching what transpired in the NBA playoffs.
And it's not even close.
Phil Jackson's collection of 10 championship rings is more than all the top free agents own combined, and he could have No. 11 in a matter of weeks. When you look at what he's been doing with the defending champs, compared to James' embarrassing exit against Boston, Wade's latest first-round flop and the largely uninspiring performances of other top-flight free agents, many of whom have been costing themselves millions with their ordinary play, there's no reason why Jackson shouldn't be pursued before anybody else.
Lawrence's assertion that Jackson is the best free agent prospect is cute, but we all know LeBron is the gem of the summer.
Then again, James could try to bring Jackson to Cleveland. But that would mean that LeBron would actually be showing some loyalty to his home-area team. We've yet to hear him say anything about that.
You also wonder if Jackson would be willing to coach a player who appears to care more about expanding his "brand" than stepping up his game in the playoffs.
Because for the best of this summer's free agents, it's always been about winning for Phil Jackson. And nothing less.