Many believe that acting Cavs GM David Griffin has a 30-game audition to show majority owner Dan Gilbert he has what it takes to earn the job full time. Meanwhile, Gilbert has reportedly reached out to prominent agent Mark Bartelstein to gauge his interest in becoming the team’s new GM. Bartelstein is the kingpin of Priority Sports in Chicago. Bob Finnan of The News-Herald sat down to chat with Griffin about his new position, and here are some of the highlights:
On replacing his friend as the GM:
“On a personal level, this is bittersweet, obviously. Chris (Grant) is somebody I had a great deal of respect for and had a personal relationship with. I’m very much looking forward to tackling this opportunity at the same time.”
On what he has to do in his new position:
“It’s time to capitalize on all of the benefits we have and, more than anything else, I think it’s time to really bring this to a place where everybody wants to be, bring it to an environment and have the sort of symbiotic relationship with each other, where we believe in each other enough and trust each other enough to tell each other what they need to do here and to do it on the court. I think we have a group of kids that want to do that. I know we have a coaching staff that comes to work each day with the spirit of finding a way. We will find a way, and this team will succeed.”
On if he believes this is a 30-game audition:
“The indication I have is I’m here right now. Dan has shown a great deal of faith in me, and he and his ownership group have put me in a position to be very successful right now. I have full latitude to do this job. I have their support to do this job. I will not be taking calls as a secretary. I will be the general manager of the team. What that means moving forward, candidly, is very irrelevant to me. If I’m going to be successful in this position, it’s because we as a group have results. And if we have those results, then you tend to get to stay. If you don’t, you go away. That’s the nature of this beast. Dan doesn’t need to say anything to me. We need to produce. That’s how I know I’m going to be there.”
On if the team will be buyers or sellers at this year’s deadline:
“I don’t see how you get better and win more games selling. We’re going to buy to the extent that it makes us better for the long haul. I don’t think we’re going to do anything that’s an act of desperation. I think we’re going to be willing to buy the right asset at the right price. We are dedicated 100 percent from top to bottom to getting better and that’s what we’re going to do.”