Cacs Keep Cacing: Cavs owner Gilbert talks to Trump at White House w/ Chi Cubs

[playahaitian]

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert talks to Donald Trump at White House
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Cavs owner Dan Gilbert showed up with the Cubs at the White House and the crew at The Jump is baffled by the optics during a key NBA window. (0:39)

2:43 PM ET

The Cleveland Cavaliers might have lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals earlier this month, but Cavs owner Dan Gilbert was already back in the White House for a championship celebration Wednesday hosted by President Donald Trump.

The Chicago Cubs were being honored for their epic World Series comeback over the Cleveland Indians, but you wouldn't know it by the way Gilbert became the center of the proceedings.



Trump made a few brief remarks to the Cubs in front of the press corps before he called out the Cavs owner by name and extended an invitation to the team to join him for a tour of the Oval Office.

"Where's Dan? Where's Dan Gilbert?" Trump said as photographers snapped photos of the Cubs team standing next to the president and the Commissioner's Trophy in the Roosevelt Room. "He's right outside. Grab him. Where's Dan? Dan Gilbert just came in. He's from basketball. He's looking for a good basketball player. Anybody play basketball?"​

LeBron [James]?"

James, of course, publicly stumped for Trump's opponent, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, in the battleground state of Ohio.

Gilbert appeared uncomfortable being put on the spot and said simply, "Things are good." Trump then called Gilbert "a great friend of mine, a huge supporter and a great guy."​

A source close to Gilbert told ESPN that the Cavs owner, along with Jay Farner -- the CEO of his Detroit-based Quicken Loans company -- were at the White House to talk business with Trump and that the timing of the Cubs' visit was coincidental.

"Today we met with President Trump to update him and his team on the positive transformations that are taking place in Detroit and Cleveland," Gilbert said in a statement provided to ESPN. "We also informed the President of some of the existing challenges that remain, as well as opportunities to solve them through public/private cooperation and/or partnerships.


"We look forward to continuing the valuable dialogue to develop the best strategies to accelerate the progress in our midwest urban cores."

Quicken Loans donated $750,000 for Trump's inauguration in January, according to a public filing by Trump's inauguration committee. However, Gilbert made no personal campaign contribution to Trump. He did back Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on the Republican ticket, however, and donated $75,000 to a fundraiser to benefit Clinton and other Democratic candidates.

James has taken a couple swipes at Trump since he has been in office. Asked about some questionable voting for the NBA All-Star Game in February, James shot back, "There's always goofy votes. Donald Trump is our president."

James was also against Trump's executive order to ban immigrants and refugees from seven countries with predominantly Muslim populations, telling The Hollywood Reporter in February, "I am not in favor of this policy or any policy that divides and excludes people. I stand with the many, many Americans who believe this does not represent what the United States is all about. And we should continue to speak out about it."

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19760647/cavaliers-owner-jokes-president-trump-white-house

 

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http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2017/06/dan_gilbert_at_white_house.html​

 

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http://heavy.com/sports/2017/06/lebron-james-david-griffin-reaction-cavaliers-dan-gilbert-part-ways/​

 

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http://nba.nbcsports.com/2017/06/19...ron-before-letting-gm-go-lebron-disappointed/
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http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2017/06/cavaliers_owner_dan_gilbert_cr.html
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[playahaitian]

The long parting of ways between GM David Griffin, Cavaliers
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David Griffin helped build the Cavs' Eastern Conference dynasty, but his departure as general manager has left Cleveland wondering what's next. (1:21)

Jun 20, 2017

• 
  

"Griff!"

"C'mon, Griff!"

"Get up here!"

On a makeshift stage in a corner of TD Garden after defeating the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals, Cleveland Cavaliers players wearing fresh, white T-shirts with crisp "The NBA Finals 2017" lettering called David Griffin to join them. TNT's Ernie Johnson shifted to make room right up front for Griffin, as the smallest man in the huddle sheepishly joined the group.

Moments later, when it was time for a group photo, an assistant coach saw team owner Dan Gilbert standing behind the cameras and called for him to join, too. Gilbert smiled and shook his head and declined, staying away.

LeBron James carried the Cavs, Griffin built them and Gilbert paid for them to the tune of $150 million this season, including luxury taxes. But Gilbert didn't want to be a part of one of the NBA's rare glory moments, backing up from the awkwardness of posing alongside his general manager, who parted ways with the Cavs on Monday.



Griffin had turned pessimistic about his future with the Cavs over the last months of the season, telling people he didn't think he'd be in the chair for very long. He was concerned enough that he started to keep an eye on other jobs that opened.

In part, Griffin was frustrated he was still one of the lowest-paid GMs in the league at less than $2 million per year on one of the shortest contracts, just three years after accepting under duress in 2014. After acting as interim for several months, on the day he officially got the job, Griffin had to announce the firing of coach Mike Brown. Gilbert didn't attend the news conference. Within days, Gilbert had offered John Calipari a job that would have made him Griffin's boss.

As such, Griffin also didn't have the power others in his position had. Most other executives who had won a championship had been promoted to president of basketball operations or similar titles if they hadn't had them already, from Bob Myers in Golden State to Donnie Nelson in Dallas to R.C. Buford in San Antonio to Danny Ainge in Boston.

Last season, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue received a five-year contract extension worth $7 million annually after helping the Cavs to a championship. Over the course of the summer, Griffin signed the coaching staff to new and, in some cases, lucrative extensions that brought their compensation toward the top of the league. Almost every player in the locker room was on a rich contract, Griffin having signed or re-signed six players to deals averaging $10 million or more per season.

Griffin had one of the best but hardest GM jobs in the league. His owner was willing to spend and willing to gamble, allowing him to operate in a position of strength in trades as he built the team. But he also had to deal with Gilbert's management style, which vacillated between overbearing and absent. Sometimes Gilbert would insert himself into trade talks, calling another owner directly, and derailing Griffin's plans. Sometimes he'd send scathing emails on subjects within and outside Griffin's control. And other times he was nowhere to be found, unreachable or distant at key moments.

Griffin balanced it all the past couple of seasons while dealing with his third cancer scare since first being diagnosed in 2006. While he isn't currently battling cancer, there were still long blood treatment sessions every month as a result of his previous chemotherapy. His signature red hair all but disappeared. Griffin hardly ever let on publicly, offering only a few clues along the way, such as the lapel pin he wore to his news conference after the dismissal of David Blatt, meant to show solidarity to others with the disease.

Orlando Magic needed a new voice for their front office after firing Rob Hennigan the day after the regular season ended, Griffin was interested. Both in the job itself -- which was going to be the president role that Griffin desired and portended to pay handsomely, more than double his current salary -- and in the possible leverage it might get him with Gilbert when the time came.

When the Magic contacted Gilbert to ask for permission to speak to Griffin during the playoffs, he did not grant it. The Magic were quite interested, sources said, and eager to get an executive with experience, and their due diligence told them Griffin wasn't happy in Cleveland.

Despite not having formal permission, Griffin met with an intermediary of the Magic to discuss the job when the Cavs were off preparing for the Eastern Conference finals, sources said. The talks did not progress and the Magic moved on, hiring Jeff Weltman away from the Toronto Raptors and giving him the exact type of job and long-term contract Griffin had sought in Cleveland.

The Atlanta Hawks also reached out to Griffin and asked Gilbert for permission when their GM job opened in May. Gilbert declined to give it. When the Milwaukee Bucks lost GM John Hammond and opened their search, Griffin made it known through back channels he'd be interested in that job, too, if he couldn't get a deal in Cleveland.

All of the interest and talk irritated Gilbert, who wasn't pleased an employee had eyes elsewhere -- even if many people in the league probably would've done the same in Griffin's unsteady position.

What became apparent as the Magic, Hawks and Bucks filled their jobs, however, is that Griffin might have overplayed his hand. When the Cavs lost in the Finals, his only leverage was to threaten to walk away, which he was prepared to do.

It came to a head over the past weekend. Gilbert and Griffin had a long meeting on Friday and discussed the future. The conversation did not go well, sources said. Griffin wanted a large pay raise and an upgrade in power. Gilbert wanted better communication and more aggression from Griffin as the team licked its wounds after a 4-1 loss in the Finals.

On Monday, Gilbert came to the team's practice facility from his home in Detroit. It was the fourth time the owner and GM would meet to try to come to a resolution. There were times in his tenure when Griffin dealt more directly with Cavs minority owner Nate Forbes. After Forbes and Gilbert nearly had a falling out during the 2016-17 season, Griffin worked on strengthening communication with Gilbert directly. Yet Griffin never got the sense Gilbert truly knew the lengths he went to try to lift up all parts of the Cavs organization. At one point in negotiations during the 2017 playoffs, an exasperated Griffin implored Gilbert to talk to people in different departments for the Cavs to see what they had to say about Griffin, hoping a sea of voices could drown out any preconceived notions Gilbert had developed about his GM.

From his office during the day, Griffin burned up the phone lines as he attempted to engage teams in a blockbuster trade. He knew his contract was due to expire at the end of the month, but he wasn't acting like it, even though many trade calls had to start with questions about what was happening with his future.

He'd had discussions over the weekend with the Indiana Pacers about Paul George. But on Monday, he was trying to find a way to trade for a lottery pick. He called several teams, including the Chicago Bulls, and told them he might be able to get his hands on a top-five pick if they'd be willing to do a deal for Jimmy Butler, sources said.

The Cavs were trying to work a three-team trade using Kevin Love and the No. 4 pick belonging to the Phoenix Suns, sources said. When the talks leaked in the media, some wondered whether Griffin was attempting to create a buzz. Gilbert is often influenced by media reports, and here his general manager was out trying to be aggressive, which the owner indicated he wanted. Late into the afternoon, Griffin was still on the phone trying to put something together.

But finally, after a monthslong dance, the end of the road came. The deal Gilbert was willing to offer wasn't going to get it done. Griffin was not interested in agreeing to something he wasn't comfortable with. Just like that, it was over.

https://twitter.com/KingJames



Lue was also in the dark, finding out after the fact. Also let go was Trent Redden, the popular VP of basketball operations who had been with the team for 11 years. He started out as an intern in 2006 and so impressed the staff that they started sending him out to scout college games within a few months. Redden was one of the longest-tenured employees in basketball operations -- there to see James lead the Cavs to the Finals in 2007, the team suffer through a 26-game losing streak, and to win the title.

Like Redden, Griffin cut his teeth as an intern with the Suns' public relations department in the early '90s. Some 25 years later he worked his way up to be the guy who helped put together the most successful team in Cleveland franchise history.

As the news was relayed to staff members at the Cavs' facility in suburban Cleveland, many came into Griffin's and Redden's offices in tears. They knew it might happen for months, but the shock stung just the same.

The championship euphoria that that gave everyone in the organization just a little extra sense of purpose was all but sapped.

"It speaks to the uncertainty of the business of basketball," a Cavs player told ESPN. "That's the business. That's the business at its core."

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/presents-19685160/nba-end-david-griffin-tenure-cleveland

 

[Complex]

So if Cleveland won, would Dan Gilbert had gone to the white house by himself with the trophy?

 

[ansatsusha_gouki]

My homie can't stand Dan Gilbert...

 

[durham]

all those Black Latinos, standing next to a man that would round up their entire families. smiling like that shit is all good

I am pretty sure Lebron, is done with Cleveland now, no way his is cool with this asshole calling him out like that.

 

[playahaitian]

all those Black Latinos, standing next to a man that would round up their entire families. smiling like that shit is all good

I am pretty sure Lebron, is done with Cleveland now, no way his is cool with this asshole calling him out like that.

^^^^^

Windhorst came out and said this was a HORRIBLE look ...and Gilbert would regret it.

 

[ansatsusha_gouki]

all those Black Latinos, standing next to a man that would round up their entire families. smiling like that shit is all good

I am pretty sure Lebron, is done with Cleveland now, no way his is cool with this asshole calling him out like that.

The only reason,why Lebron came back was for the city.Other than that,he doesn't talk to that piece of shit from what I understand.

 

[BitchI'llKillYa]

• How could anyone want to play for this man?

Late Thursday night, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert issued the following statement on LeBron James' departure from the franchise.

Dear Cleveland, all of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers supporters wherever you may be tonight;


As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several-day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVERwill betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight: "I personally guarantee that the Cleveland Cavaliers will win an NBA Championship before the self-titled former 'king' wins one."

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our homegrown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland. Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day...

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue...

Dan Gilbert

Majority Owner

Cleveland Cavaliers

 

[IT IS WHAT IT IS]

Yep LeBron 'Da Kang' James, keep making Massa a rich man! Called you all kinds of names, completely disrespected you and you go back and make him MORE money!?!?! Going home my ass... House Nigga ass fool.. Everytime he pulls on that Cavs jersey he's writing another chapter in the being Gilberts hired hoe book! For every dollar LeBron gets paid Gilbert makes 10 off his back! Shit is so funny its sad...

 

[HellBoy]

Y'all still support Quicken products?

 

[Mask]

So if Cleveland won, would Dan Gilbert had gone to the white house by himself with the trophy?

Yup...shit he went on the behalf of his business arrangements

 

[jasonblacc]

The only reason,why Lebron came back was for the city.Other than that,he doesn't talk to that piece of shit from what I understand.

Doesn't really matter. Gilbert got what he wanted and raised his franchise to billions of dollars.