The firing of Chris Grant as general manager for the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team was needed, writes Cleveland Urban News.Com Sportswriter Karl Kimbrough, Grant did not have Head Coach Mike Brown's back, says Kimbrough
From left: Cleveland Cavaliers Basketball Team Owner Dan Gilbert, Cavaliers Head Coach Mike Brown, Former Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant, and Acting Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin
By Karl Kimbrough, Cleveland Urban News.Com Sportswriter (kimbrough@clevelandurbannews.com). Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog. Tel: 216-659-0473
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| Cleveland Urban News.Com Sportswriter Karl Kimbrough |
CLEVELAND, Ohio-Recently terminated Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant, whom team owner Dan Gilbert fired last week, attended the
University of San Diego some two and a half decades ago as did a 6” 10”
center named Mike Brown, who is now head coach for the Cavaliers, a
major sports attraction for the major American city.
With their
friendship and so much history between the two, one would think that
Grant would have had Brown's back while the two worked together to
improve this Cleveland basketball team. That did not apparently prove to be the
case, and ultimately Grant's failure to back up his coach led to his
firing, some say. This was truly mind boggling because Grant had the
training and came up the ranks the right way to be what the NBA deems "a good GM."
Grant came into
the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks immediately after completing graduate
school. Prior to that he earned a degree in psychology and a master's
degree in educational leadership at the University of San Diego.
After being hired by the Hawks Grant held several different positions
as he worked his way up to vice president of operations and assistant
general manager in 2004. In 2004, another friend of Grant's, Danny
Ferry, hired him to work for the Cavaliers. When Ferry resigned,
Grant was promoted to Ferry's general manager position. In May 2013
Grant fired head coach Byron Scott for his lack of producing more
wins and hired Brown, his old friend who was head coach during LeBron
James' seven-year stint with the Cavaliers.
The ending of
the LeBron James era in Cleveland brought many challenges for both
Grant and Brown. Grant had a plan of how he would restructure the
team to bring a winner this season. Grant's plan involved dismantling
that 2010-2011 team and getting into the draft lottery by losing
early on his first few years then choosing the right talent who could
form a good nucleus to build around. Along with that, bringing in low
priced free agent veterans like C. J. Miles and Jarrett Jack to play
with holdover Anderson Varejao was part of the strategy, one in
efforts to build a nucleus of 19, 20, and 21 -year
old players.
The Cavaliers had the second youngest team in
the NBA at the beginning of this season. Having so many young draft
picks and lower priced free agents would put the team in a salary cap
friendly situation at the end of this 2013-2014 season. Then the
Cavaliers would be in a position to attract the better high priced
free agents like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony to solidify them
as a strong playoff contender for years to come.
Grant should be
commended for making moves and trades to have the team in position to
land a few high priced free agents at the end of this season. But
this journey to nurture the young upstart high potential players
must be coupled with the development of those players. Some may feel
that this area of development on the floor is up to the coach to mold
the young team into one that plays well together. To a certain extent
that is true, but when shopping for these players recruiters must
remember that ultimately the team must secure the right ingredients
for the new recruits to come together and mesh well.
While Grant
brought in players with a lot of basketball talent and upside
athletically, it was obvious that he did not consider other key
factors. Qualities like character, being tough minded, a history of
being team first players, having a passion for the game, and not
having a feeling of entitlement are key points. These types of
qualities need to be present along with the talent you're looking
for. Otherwise the team can become a dysfunctional team. Chemistry, or the lack thereof, has been
at the center of the Cavaliers team problems.
Instead of
supporting Coach Brown by reprimanding players as needed, Grant
appeared to be more of an enabler. Andrew Bynum was not the only
player to have conduct detrimental to the team. Grant used that
excuse as an opportunity to trade a player he did not want for a two
time all star in Luol Deng. A source close to the team indicates
that players have allegedly been allowed to be late to practices, and
for bus trips to arenas when on the road.
On various
occasions players have acted disrespectful to coaches, including
Coach Brown. Even storming out of practice early did not bring a
reprimand, and players were allowed to play in a game the next day.
What kind of message is the coach and management sending to these
young players? Simply put, they were being enabled.
Before Grant was fired the players were too comfortable with what they wanted to do and how they wanted to play. Grant was accused of not showing the players that he supported his coach. He did not use his degree in psychology very well when dealing with the players, critics say.
Before Grant was fired the players were too comfortable with what they wanted to do and how they wanted to play. Grant was accused of not showing the players that he supported his coach. He did not use his degree in psychology very well when dealing with the players, critics say.
On the day
owner Dan Gilbert fired Grant he said that “we need an
environmental and cultural change,” which left you wondering how
would the environment and culture be different with Grant not being
around. We found the answer to that question when new acting general
manager David Griffin went to Washington to address the team before
their first game after Grant was let go.
Griffin drew
the line and laid down the law, letting the players know they would
not be around long if they did not play hard. He also let them know
that any indiscretions would require a fine. In the NBA there are no
limitations on how much a player can be fined by his team. Before the
Grant firing, the Cavaliers were on a six game losing streak. Since
the debacle against the L.A. Lakers at home, this team is four and
zero, and the players are now willingly playing like they like each other.
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