In a series of tweets before the Cavaliers went down 0-1 in their series against the Warriors, owner Dan Gilbert voiced his thoughts about Cleveland’s’ journey, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. The Cavs are back in the NBA Finals for a fourth straight season and team owner Gilbert said that trading Kyrie Irving was a crucial part of that.
Gilbert said that general manager Koby Altman‘s decision to deal Irving, and then restructure the roster at the deadline was critical in getting the team to this point.
“W/o either of these 2 bold moves orchestrated by Koby & the @Cavs front office, we would not be here w/ a good chance to bring another one home to CLE,” Gilbert wrote in one tweet. Gilbert also praised LeBron James, writing that “his impact is magical,” and also lauded the play of his support cast.
Much was made of the Cavaliers’ decision to part with Irving last summer as the point guard helped lead the team to an NBA title two seasons ago. James himself admitted to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols that he doubted the Cavaliers’ ability to compete after the team dealt Irving.
“Even if you start back to the summertime where I felt like it was just bad for our franchise just to be able to trade away our superstar point guard,” James said. “A guy that I had been in so many battles with over the last three years, and obviously I wasn’t a part of the communications and know exactly what went on between the two sides. But I just felt like it was bad timing for our team.”
Check out more Central Division notes down below:
- Former Hawks assistant coach Charles Lee has signed a contract with the Bucks to join the staff of new head coach Mike Budenholzer, tweets Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- During a press conference before Game 1, NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the January police video that showed Bucks player Sterling Brown being arrested. Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY Sports writes that Silver called the footage “horrific” and that he has been in contact with Brown.
- After working out and interviewing with the Bulls, Texas big man Mohamed Bamba has made a compelling case to be drafted by the Bulls as the seventh overall pick, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes.
- With the departure of GM Jeff Bower, assistant GM Pat Garrity is likely a strong candidate to land a key role in the Pistons’ front office, tweets Vincent Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.
- Keith Langlois of NBA.com looks at the Pistons‘ search for a head coach and a general manager. With Ed Stefanski hired to oversee the hiring process, Langlois writes that Detroit should prioritize a head coach.
Hey Altman. You made a trade and ended up playing a Kyrie less Celtics that still took you 7 games. You had to unload the players you acquired for Kyrie cuz they were misused (Crowder) or “poop” disturbers (IT vs. Love). Clarkson and Hood seem to be more interested in selfies wit Jr than actually playing. Hill is trying but is really only productive on mediocre teams with no pressure. Nance will be a good pick up just not yet. You added Kendrick Perkins to fill a spot, the absolute opposite of anything that can play in the NBA. Old, fat, arrogant, out of shape, can’t rebound or defend younger or smaller guys… The only reason the cavs are in the finals is cuz Lebron James is defying the known physics of any player ever and still improving at an age where his draft peers are retiring or declining, and still making the finals. People that hated him joining wade and bosh in their prime and winning titles, remember they lost to #8 Dallas their first final. Beyond those two the heat had washed up oldies. Going back to the garbage run team he left though was solid, and he’s only had Kyrie, love when he’s not getting beat up, and Tristan Thompson whenever he remembers he’s a basketball player. This year Lebron kept an absolute jot mess of a terrible team in the game enough to beat my beloved Celtics and make the finals, and Altman is trying to make his crap trades a justification for Lebron being the greatest player in the world. I’ll even give Bron the edge over Jordan cuz mj didn’t have to deal with such stupid teammates, even Rodman kept his bs off the court other than the head butt and ball kick. Lebron deserves more respect guys, and his gm can’t even give it to him.
Signed, a diehard Celtics fan
Dallas was a 3 seed that year..
My bad.
To start off, I wasn’t sure that KI trade was a good one for Cleveland, well what they got for him. I was pretty sure they had to trade him no doubt, but maybe they could have gotten more for him? But as the season went on I started to think, well maybe this trade ain’t that bad, & by now I really think like Gilbert, the fact that Cleveland is in the finals again & that Boston did play better & got almost to the finals without him, proves that the move was the right one. Now is Boston who have the KI problem instead, I think they should bet strongly for Rozier & trade KI, so they can get the most for him before he demands big money & breaks the team to pay him.
The trade is a huge loss for Cleveland. They netted a mid lottery pick for KI. Yikes! Nice try forcing the narrative on that deal.
Yeah that trade was trash. The other mid-season trades were really good though.
The KI trade helped get them pieces to make some of the mid season deals. So I’m guessing that’s being taken into account. Also being taken into account is that KI forced their hand, which always hurts your leverage.
It would look even better if they could’ve gotten a commitment from LeBron past this season because the Nets lottery pick at mid season could’ve gotten them another piece that would help them now.
This team is better now than it was with Kyrie, Kyrie is good but he’s not great.
Kyrie is one of the best pg in the East. Even Lebron call’s him a superstar. Kyrie left the Cavs because of some fans not giving him some respect. And you saw what happened with the Celtics in ECF, yes they reached the ECF but they come up short, so yes they still need Hayward, especially K.Irving. Rozier is good but I’ll go with a more experienced pg and that is K.Irving. -Celtics fan since Larry Legend played..
You could be a Celtic fan since John Havlicek played, Kyrie Irving is not worth it.
Well every team in Nba wants his service and luckily the Celtics have him. We all have our opinions but we all know every nba fans either pro or anti K.Irving knows he is a superstar. I hate Lebron but you can’t take away his greatness in this era. But telling me K.Irving is not worth it, only means you hate him..peace
Altman made the two worst trades of the NBA year, and that’s not because things just didn’t work out. He’s fortunate there isn’t an award for the worst GM performance, he’d have won this year’s going away.
KI is a top 10 talent and (in the playoffs, top 10 player), and was controlled for 2 years. And they get nothing for him. They got pieces and they weren’t even ones that were good fits. Basically, Boston gave up a remote draft pick (Cavs are lucky it’s as high as 8) and guys they didn’t want or couldn’t use. Taking on Clarkson’s toxic contract and giving up a 1st for Nance? He has some talent, but Clarkson is a low end backup that will be there at 12 mm plus for two more years. Hill was a good pickup, but an obvious one – and the Crowder for Hood deal wasn’t thought through.
Mr Dilbert: you should have got more!! – signed Pacers fan club. Wallow in your puke after LBJ leaves….he showed you a lot of love and respect with that blow by handshake!!!!! No GM and Screwy Lue…they will fix you right up!
I have read all this mess left on this board. None of you give any credit for Ante Zizic. He was a 1st rounder and 7’0” and 21 years old and flashed at times. Cavs are preparing life with LBJ and without. If Lebron stays they trade the 8 pick to Charlotte for Kemba Walker. Trade JR and Tristan for Deandre Jordan. Lineup next year of Walker, Hood, LBJ, Love, Jordan. Bench Hill, Korver, Zizic, Nance, Clarkson,Oman. Would love Green but he played himself into a multi year deal. If Lebron walks (entirely possible). Draft Sexton or Porter Jr. they will get rid of Smith for sure. Could look like Sexton, Hood, Love, Nance, Thompson. Bench Hill, Korver, Zizic, Osman, Clarkson. Not sure that is an 8 seed but Lebron can’t play forever. I hated when Lebron left the first time. I was happy he was back. I didn’t burn any jerseys. He has left it on the floor. When people rip on him, I get upset. He is the best player of our generation. Just appreciate what you are seeing and what Cleveland has. I read the Celtics hating. Stop. KI just had his 3rd operation on the same knee. Fantastic handles and moves but is a selfish player wanting his “own team”. He got it. Ainge got it to. I agree with the person who said to put the chips in on Rozier. Not being on the bench for game 7 was weak. He is Baron freaking Davis now with 1 knee. It very well could be the sixers and C’s battling in the east and the Rockets, Lakers and Warriors out West with the Timberwolves on the fringe. Cavs have had a great run. They did Cleveland proud. As for the rest of you haters get ready for the Browns to whip your NFL teams ass!