Letting David Griffin walk just one year after winning a title was already a bad look at the time for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now we are getting an idea of just how much long-term damage it may have done to the franchise.
Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com reported on Saturday that owner Dan Gilbert’s failure to retain the former Cavs GM upon the expiration of his contract last summer damaged the relationship between LeBron James and the team. Pluto notes Griffin’s “excellent” communication skills with the players and coaches as well as the respect that the four-time MVP had for Griffin.
It’s a revelation that only adds to the scrapheap for Cleveland ahead of James’ impending free agency after the season. All of their other players seem to be either injured or ineffective, and they are now just 6-9 this calendar year after a 120-88 thrashing at the hands of the Houston Rockets on Saturday. That’s not even considering the locker room drama plaguing the team right now.
