Cleveland Cavaliers: Chauncey Billups is not heading to NE Ohio
By Ryan Rosko
The Cleveland Cavaliers are back to square one in their pursuit of a lead basketball executive.
After weeks of speculation in the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ front office, it finally appears that an answer has been given. No, owner Dan Gilbert should not have let go of former general manager David Griffin, but there is no turning back now.
Outside of former NBA player Chauncey Billups, Cleveland has yet to officially interview anyone else to replace Griffin. In the meantime, both the Cavs and their fans have been waiting for Billups to make up his mind.
Well, the wait is over. According to ESPN‘s Brian Windhorst via ESPN Cleveland, the answer is clear regarding Billups’ future with the Cavaliers.
Brian Windhorst on Chauncey Billups and the possibility of him coming to Cleveland: "It's pretty clear he's moving on."
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 3, 2017
Waiting this long first off should not have happened. Gilbert should have officially interviewed others too. Of course none of this would even be possible had Gilbert simply given a new deal to Griffin.
Shortly after Windhorst’s statement, his ESPN colleague Adrian Wojnarowski stated that Billups has withdrawn from consideration.
Chauncey Billups has withdrawn from consideration for Cleveland's President of Basketball Operations job, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2017
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Now, assistant general manager Koby Altman likely will get promoted.
Nothing will change my belief that if Griffin was still with Cleveland, they would have made a trade by now. It may not have been the upgrade I would have preferred, but given his track record, I am confident some deal would have been made.
Adding point guard Jose Calderon does not do anything and I am not sold that Griffin would have brought him in anyways. Everyone knows more talent is needed. Yet, with no top decision-maker in the office, the lack of creativity in Cleveland’s trade targets and execution for those players is evident.
If Billups knew for a while that he was not going to join Cleveland, he should have let the team know. By now more candidate would have been interviewed and one would have been hired.
Unfortunately, that is not the case. In some ways, this dysfunction in the front office is similar to that of struggling franchises. The Cavaliers organization does not fall into that category on the court, but what impacts people away from the court could eventually change the success on it.
Next: Bringing back Korver the right move?
Something major needs to change in Cleveland’s front office ASAP. Otherwise, this offseason could turn into a wash quickly given how other teams have already either traded for, signed, or are close to completing key transactions.