Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Cleveland Cavaliers name David Griffin GM, and fire coach Mike Brown

cleveland cavaliers

David Griffin has been named General Manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Mike Brown has been released as Head Coach, the team announced today. Griffin had been acting General Manager since February 6th, 2014. Brown was hired as Head Coach on April 24th, 2013.

“Our ownership group is looking forward to David Griffin leading the basketball side of our business. We interviewed several strong candidates for the GM position including Griff. We chose David as our GM because we believe he is the best person to lead our franchise at this critical time and into the future. David brings over two decades of experience. He knows the ins and outs of this league as well as anyone and is also an outstanding talent evaluator.

“More importantly, he is a general manager who is aligned with our culture and philosophy which is the foundation of how we do business. David is not only passionate about his own job but also cares deeply about the success of everyone around him. His presence alone creates an infectious positive environment with players, coaches, front office people and even our fan base. We already saw some progress in the short time David led our basketball side in the latter part of this past season. Clearly, we have substantial work ahead of us and I am confident that Griff will play an essential part of the growth and success of our organization,” said Dan Gilbert, Majority Owner of the Cavaliers.

The Cavs record was 16-33 (.326) when Griffin became acting GM, then went on to close the season with a 17-16 (.520) record following his appointment. Griffin and the Cavaliers basketball front office staff remain focused on reviewing the past season and preparing for the draft, including the pre-draft player combine in Chicago this week, as well as preparing for the upcoming NBA free agency period.

“Our ownership’s commitment to this franchise and the fans of Cleveland is absolute. I feel that commitment, not only by the resources they make available but also with their tireless passion for delivering a championship-caliber team. Our entire organization reflects that passion and commitment. I am humbled and honored to be put in position to aggressively work with them, all of our front office staff and anyone who can contribute to achieving that vision,” said Griffin.

Griffin joined the Cavaliers as vice president of basketball operations in September 2010. Prior to joining the Cavaliers, he spent 17 seasons with the Phoenix Suns, the last three as the club’s senior vice president of basketball operations after being named to the position in June 2007. Griffin joined the Suns basketball operations group in 1997 and performed various roles with the team including assistant general manager of player personnel, director of player personnel and assistant director of player personnel.

“Over the last several months it has become clear to me that the Cavaliers are on the cusp of reaching the higher level of success that we all want and our fans so greatly deserve. At the same time, it has become apparent that certain changes are needed. We now have the assets to make those necessary changes and additions to our team,” Griffin stated.

mike brown

Brown finished the 2013-14 season with a 33-49 record and 10th place in the Eastern Conference. He also served as Head Coach of the Cavaliers from 2005-2010 and his life time record with the Cavs was 305-187.

“This is a very tough business. It pains all of us here that we needed to make the difficult decision of releasing Mike Brown. Mike worked hard over this last season to move our team in the right direction. Although, there was some progress from our finish over the few prior seasons, we believe we need to head in a different direction. We wish Mike and his family nothing but the best,” said Gilbert.

“Our ownership support provides the highest level of resources, flexibility and commitment to aggressively do whatever we believe needs to be done in order to win. There is no harder working or better human being in our league than Mike,” Griffin added. “This was not an easy decision. We thank Mike for his efforts and wish him, his wife Carolyn, and their family only the best.”

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, “Brown’s second reign in Cleveland lasted 384 days. Owner Dan Gilbert hired him back prior to last season and admitted he made a mistake in firing him the first time — only to fire him again after one season. Gilbert will swallow the remaining four years on the deal and the balance of the $20 million contract Brown signed just last summer, a staggering amount of guaranteed money to pay a fired coach, particularly since Gilbert paid two coaches last season while finishing the final year on Byron Scott’s deal. Now the Cavs will begin next season with their third coach in as many years, while Gilbert has now parted ways with three general managers and four head coaches since purchasing the team nine years ago. Brown went 33-49 last season and the Cavs missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. Gilbert brought Brown back to fix the Cavs’ defense, which was worst in the league during the 2012-13 season.”

Griffin is leading an immediate search for the Cavaliers’ new Head Coach. The current Cavaliers assistant coaches remain under contract and working with the team.

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Multiple law firms have refused to help Donald Sterling, reports TMZ

Here’s TMZ with the Donald Sterling latest:

Donald Sterling has been REJECTED by at least 8 big law firms in his quest to sue the NBA … we’re told because they think he’s toxic and would piss off their existing clients.

Multiple sources in the legal world tell TMZ … Sterling has reached out to a number of extremely large, prestigious firms, both in L.A. and San Francisco, looking for representation … but none were receptive.

Our sources say partners in the firms feel representing Sterling would alienate both their African American clients and corporate clients that are hyper-sensitive to controversy.

Steve Kerr still the favorite to land Knicks head coaching job

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on the Knicks and Steve Kerr:

Steve Kerr still the favorite to land Knicks head coaching job

Negotiations to finalize an agreement between Steve Kerr and the New York Knicks are progressing toward the final stages, sources close to the talks confirmed to ESPN New York.

In the wake of ESPN.com’s report Saturday that the Warriors fear Kerr is “too deep” into talks with the Knicks to take the Golden State job, one source told ESPN New York that negotiations between Kerr and the Knicks are “pretty far down the road.”

Another league source with knowledge of the talks said Sunday the discussions would “pick up” on Monday.

The New York Daily News first reported Sunday that the Knicks and Kerr are close to a deal. The paper reported that the two sides are optimistic that a deal would be in place early this week and Kerr may accompany Jackson to Chicago for the NBA draft combine, which begins Thursday.

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Paul Pierce says Nets not scared of Heat

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the Heat and Nets, who are facing each other in the second round of the 2014 NBA playoffs. The Heat currently lead the series 2-1, but the Nets stepped up yesterday to win Game 3 in Brooklyn yesterday.

The Nets made their stand last night against LeBron James, and Brooklyn showed up to stand with them.

When you are The King of your sport, you live for these occasions, when the opponent is reeling and desperate and you have the chance to go for the throat and choke the last vestiges of life out of it.

Once you become The King, every game becomes a Game of Thrones, every series a Series of Thrones.

Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, remember, came to Brooklyn to threaten The Kingdom, and with a lot of luck and Mikhail Prokhorov maybe installing a Fountain of Youth somewhere inside Barclays Center, to dream the improbable dream of shocking the world and somehow wresting the crown from The King.

That dream stayed alive Saturday night when Brooklyn, a 104-90 winner, played with a toughness and an edge and a pride that reflects Mike Tyson’s borough and refused to let King James grab a 3-0 series lead and bury it.

“We’re not scared of them,” Pierce said.

Marv Albert says Steve Kerr would make a great coach

Here’s ESPN New York reporting:

Marv Albert says Steve Kerr would make a great coach

Marv Albert has no doubt that Steve Kerr can coach in the NBA.

“He would make a tremendous coach, whatever he decides to do,” Albert, Kerr’s broadcast partner on TNT, said in a phone interview earlier this week. “He has all the qualities, in terms of like-ability, and what he knows about the game. He’s been a general manager (and) he was a player who also knows Xs and Os. I think he’d be terrific.”

One thing that worries Albert, the former voice of the Knicks, is team owner James Dolan.

Albert says that Dolan needs to leave president Phil Jackson and whomever he hires as his head coach “alone.”

“Dolan has to let them, leave them alone. That’s No. 1. And it hasn’t happened in the past,” Albert said.

NBA names Dick Parsons as new Clippers interim CEO

clippers

The National Basketball Association has named former Citigroup chairman and former Time Warner chairman and CEO Dick Parsons the interim CEO of the Los Angeles Clippers, effective immediately, it was announced today by Commissioner Adam Silver. Parsons is currently a senior advisor at Providence Equity Partners and sits on the board of directors for the Commission on Presidential Debates.

“I believe the hiring of Dick Parsons will bring extraordinary leadership and immediate stability to the Clippers organization,” said Silver. “Dick’s credentials as a proven chief executive speak for themselves and I am extremely grateful he accepted this responsibility.”

“Like most Americans, I have been deeply troubled by the pain the Clippers’ team, fans and partners have endured,” said Parsons. “A lifelong fan of the NBA, I am firmly committed to the values and principles it is defending, and I completely support Adam’s leadership in navigating the challenges facing the team and the league. The Clippers are a resilient organization with a brilliant coach and equally talented and dedicated athletes and staff who have demonstrated great strength of character during a time of adversity. I am honored to be asked to work with them, build on their values and accomplishments, and help them open a new, inspiring era for their team.”

After attending the University of Hawaii, where he played basketball, Parsons earned a law degree from Albany Law School in 1971 and began his distinguished legal career as a staff lawyer for New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller. When Rockefeller was appointed Vice President of the United States, Parsons followed him to Washington, where he also worked closely with President Gerald Ford.

Parsons returned to New York in 1977 and became a partner and ultimately managing partner of the law firm of Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler. In 1988, Parsons left his law firm to become president and then chairman and CEO of Dime Bancorp, Inc. Parsons began his long and distinguished career at Time Warner in 1995, joining as president and then becoming chairman and CEO from 2002 until 2008. In 2009, after retiring from Time Warner, he served as chairman of Citigroup until stepping down from that position in 2012.

Parsons’ extensive list of accomplishments also includes having served as a member of President Barack Obama’s economic advisory team.

Spurs bench continues doing big things

Here’s the San Antonio Express-News reporting on the Spurs, who use their bench in a big way and usually get great results:

spurs

The bench was once again a massive advantage for the Spurs, who outscored Portland’s reserves 50-19 for the second straight game as they took a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

The backups also enjoyed edges of 12-4 on the boards and 8-1 in assists, providing a boost Portland simply had no answer for.

“Our bench has been very important for us all year,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “We would not have this home-court advantage right now if it had not been for the play of those guys. They have done a wonderful job all season long, and they are continuing to do it.”

They didn’t during most of their first-round series with Dallas. But even though it only ended on Sunday, that matchup seemed like a distant memory as the usual suspects all thrived.