In a statement, Griffin said he was appreciative of the opportunity given to him by Gilbert, adding, "I am extremely excited for my next challenge in the National Basketball Association, however Dan and I know now that [the Cavs] are a team built on largely on the concept of fit and are now at the point where the fit is not right for us to continue with one another".
Along with the return of James and the acquisition of Love to team up with point guard Kyrie Irving, the Cavs made three straight Finals appearances from 2015-2017 and were able to come back from down 3-1 to the Golden State Warriors to bring Cleveland their first National Basketball Association championship in 2016.
It would appear that Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is looking to a former Detroit Pistons star for help.
News of Cleveland's interest in Billups was first reported by The Vertical, and it comes on the same day that the Cavaliers parted ways with general manager David Griffin.
It was Griffin - not Gilbert - who earned James' respect, and more importantly, trust over the last 3 years.
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Griffin's two biggest moves as Cavs GM were signing LeBron James back after he left Miami and trading for Kevin Love. It said, "If no one appreciated you Griff I did, and hopefully all the people of Cleveland".
He also made a huge move when he fired David Blatt as coach midway through the 2015-16 season despite the team's 30-11 record because he didn't think the team handled winning well.
Earlier: First, we had a trade between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, with the Sixers getting the No. 1 overall pick.
What does it say about Gilbert that he went against James' trust in Griffin? Griffin's replacement will face immediate and unrelenting pressure to keep pace with Golden State and appease James, but ultimately the blame for any managerial shortcomings will be passed up the chain to Gilbert. James even campaigned to get Griffin an extension after he pulled off a trade to get Kyle Korver, one of the league's best outside shooters. That hands-on approach may have upset others, but Griffin seemed to find the right balance with his boss.
Wojanarowski added that "multiple teams" will be pursuing Griffin in the next round of GM openings "for significant money".
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