FanGraphs: Indians have one of “smartest” lineups in baseball
April 22, 2014Would you play more golf if it was easier with a 15-inch hole?
April 22, 2014The message was officially delivered. The Cleveland Cavaliers are done “acquiring assets.” Just days after the franchise wrapped up a 33-49 season, one that left them just short of their goal of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, acting General Manager David Griffin sat in front of the local media and ensured them that, after years of rhetoric revolving around assets and banter that treated players as if they were poker chips, the team is shifting into “targeted acquisition mode.”
Expected to have $26 million in salary-cap space this off-season, Griffin pulled no punches when it came to addressing the Cavaliers’ current weaknesses. He referred to several instances over the course of the 2013-14 season where his team was “selfish” and did not trust one another. Specific to the roster, Griffin stated that the Cavs need to—are you ready for this?—get bigger, get smarter (have players with a higher basketball IQ), shoot better, and be tougher.
Though the team is also armed with the ninth-overall pick (assuming the lottery plays out as it stands), Griffin said that the Cavs will no longer look to get lucky in the draft. Though they have plenty of areas for improvement, he repeatedly said that the team’s success will hinge upon how players fit within the confines of the current core. “There is nothing that can be done to an NBA roster that we are not capable of doing,” Griffin said of the flexibility he is afforded.
The overarching question will be who, whether it is Griffin or an appointed General Manager, will be making these impending decisions as the team continues on. Griffin is currently operating as “Acting” General Manger, stepping in for Chris Grant who was fired earlier this season and though he hasn’t gotten official word from Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert, Griffin spoke confidently, stating that he is on the same page with those making the decisions.
“I feel no great sense of wonder,” Griffin said of his current title and suspiciously quiet owner. “I feel very confident ownership and myself will be moving in the same direction. But I also don’t need to hear from them to know that I need to get better.
“I’m not going to campaign. I’m not running for mayor. Our results are totally unacceptable. I understand what we need to do to get better. And if Dan and his ownership group are of that mindset, we’re going to get better together.”
9 Comments
Talk is cheap I’ve said the same thing about the football team but I like Griffin acknowledging how bad this team underachieved last season. Now lets see what this largely talking less producing franchise does this summer. Speaking of which has anyone seen Dan Gilbert lately? Funny how he’s not as visible anymore. I guess losing coupled with sticking your foot in your mouth (past draft lottery) again have a way of him performing a Houdini act.
“Griffin stated that the Cavs need to—are you ready for this?—get bigger”
I wish they had figured this out before they passed on Jonas, Drummond, and Noel in three consecutive drafts.
Drummond was the mistake possibly Valanciunas but not Noel. Of course they might as well had their own Noel in the way Bennett played but for me Drummond was the OOPs. And I shared it because I wasn’t a proponent of his that draft either. Oh well.
“I’m not going to campaign. I’m not running for mayor.”
“Dan has already made up his mind about my future”(Translated by Bing)
Talk is cheap. Especially when it’s coming from the Q!
Bing!?!?!??!
By almost any metric, Noel was a better prospect than Bennett at the time. Further, when you look at their injury histories ( Noel’s biggest knock), Bennett was arguably more of a risk: suffered numerous injuries in high school plus the shoulder during college.
IMO, we drafted Benett as part of Gilbert’s win now edict. However, Grant and co overlooked the fact that Bennett wasn’t all that good in college, had a bad injury history, was fat, and was a tweeter PF (a bad position to be in: see Beasley, Derrick Williams, Thad Young, etc.). We should’ve taken Noel or traded the pick: obvious then, even more obvious now.
You’re right, there’s no way Bing would translate this accurately…
http://failblog.cheezburger.com/failbook/tag/bing-translator
Usually like what Terry Pluto writes but see no basis in his endorsement of hiring Griffin because he is the “best option.” Pluto has no idea, nor do we, based on an upbeat press conference. If Griffin is hired it will be Gilbert’s second consecutive “insider” hire. And if Griffin doesn’t finally nail the necessary roster makeover I’ll wonder if what’s most important to Gilbert is hiring someone he knows he can get along with, not necessarily the most competent.
This is a huge hire for Gilbert. He blows this after whiffing on Grant and maybe Brown and that huge reservoir of good will he generated with comic sans many years ago may be just about drained. I don’t care a bit about LeBron anymore and the Cavs are on the precipice of irrelevance for me.