Dan Gilbert needs to abandon playoff goals for this season
February 6, 2014New Cavs GM will have the tools in place to rebuild properly
February 6, 2014The ink on the press release has barely dried, but the names of potential replacements for the position recently created in the wake of Chris Grant’s firing in Cleveland is starting to fill up. CBS Sports’ Ken Berger’s recently filed column includes current “acting” general manager David Griffin, but several other individuals with considerable accolades throughout the league could also garner a look.
In addition to big-name staples like former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers1 head coach Phil Jackson and former Memphis GM Chris Wallace, Berger lists former Knicks GM Glen Grunwald (credited with last yaer’s 54-win season), and former New Orleans GM Jeff Bower. Berger adds that the Cavs already have done some background checking on a current member of the Knicks’ front office, director of pro personnel Mark Hughes.
Of all of the names that may or may not raise a few eyebrows, the most intriguing may be Michael Winger, the No. 3 executive in the Oklahoma City front office. Per Berger, Winger is a “rising star” who has been groomed by Thunder GM Sam Presti, whose long-term approach to sustainable success in a small market should be (and arguably has been, despite the lack of wins) the blueprint for a team like Cleveland. Prior to joining the Thunder, Winger spent five seasons (2005-06 through 2009-10) in the front office with the Cavs. Winger’s role in Cleveland was extensive, and included instituting organizational processes and working closely with Cavaliers’ management and ownership on all team matters. He joined the Cavaliers in July of 2005 after spending two years working for renowned sports agent and attorney, Ron Shapiro in Baltimore, Maryland.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio2, Winger is a graduate of Miami University (OH) and a licensed attorney.
“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,” said team majority owner Dan Gilbert following Grant’s firing. “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.”
31 Comments
Ha…Phil Jackson…wow
We got phil jackson???
“We believe a change in leadership was necessary to establish the best possible culture and environment for our entire team to flourish.”
[Kyrie can’t lead meme goes here]
I’ll bet Dan figured, if Pat Riley could do it, then so can Phil Jackson.
Scott you forgot to list my name. Thank you.
An automatic mention that was an easy prediction.
[Mike Brown can’t coach meme goes here]
[C O M I C S A N S]
Haslam can give him some tips…
Ask and ye shall receive.
yeah, nothing like a great ex-coach who’d wouldn’t mind trying the personnel thing for the first time now that he’s almost 70. Add in a wee bit of ego, a location he probably detests and the next coach always looking over his shoulder in case Phil’s coaching yen returns … yep, that sounds like a plan.
http://t.qkme.me/3pd37n.jpg
Sarcasm font on. Is there a Stepien that can be hired as GM of the Cavs? Sarcasm font off.
The Cavs are an underachieving collection of talented pieces that don’t fit together at all.
Kudos to WFNY for your dedication to writing thoughtful articles about the Cavs dysfunction.
WE GOT HIM! WE GOT PHIL!
The funny part is that he actually can AFFORD it… like big time.
“Originally from Cleveland, Ohio”
….at least he’s not from Detroit.
Still my favorite… probably because i made it.
Lenny Wilkens.
He knew enough to get a 5 year contract!!!
Actually he can very much afford it thanks to a five year contract courtesy of Dan Gilbert.
I liked Jacob’s suggestion on Twitter last week of throwing all the money in the world at Daryl Morey. He’s got Cleveland connections too!
I sure I am jumping the gun on an article forthcoming from the fantastic writers here at WFNY…but someone get Dan Gilbert’s phone number to Steve quick….. his soundbites coming out right now are just absolutely making this worse.
I’d still like to think that a competent organization has a specific replacement in mind when they fire someone so important to the team.
I hope they hire Mr. Winger.
Glad to see he’s still employed somewhere.
He rocked back in the day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlN3oEjMpUQ
I just heard Dan Gilbert’s press conference from today and after hearing it I am not only shaking my head but withdrawing my name for the position of general manager.
I thought the Cleveland Browns were delusional but I have to admit after hearing Gilbert today I think he’s almost as bad. Possibly worse. He spent time saying how much he believed in this team how it had to much talent and how Mike Brown had made the playoffs in every year he coached (well I guess that season he coached a whopping 5 games because he was FIRED wasn’t really a season) blah blah blah and the like just amazed me.
Bring in the local boy. Why not? It’s worked with Hoyer…
Miami University represent!
Hahahahahaha, Phil Jackson. Get real. Can Michael Winger unearth the next Kevin Durant? Because that is the only way the OKC “model” will work. Just like the only way the San Antonio “model” works is with Tim Duncan.
Chudzinski frowny face
Really? So, Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili are just scrubs, right?
Because of Hoyer’s one good game?