Dan Gilbert Gets It!

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Off The Court Issues, SDC COMMENTARY

I ended up playing “straight man” to Cleveland Cavaliers Team Owner Dan Gilbert very early in his tenure as owner of the team. It was at a press conference introducing new Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry, and new head coach Mike Brown.

Gilbert had bought the team during the middle of the previous season. He fired head coach Paul Silas with the team still in the playoff hunt in the NBA Eastern Conference. Cleveland ended up not making the post season. Shortly after the season ended, he would fire President of Basketball Operations Jim Paxson.

I asked Gilbert at that press conference, with he being a relatively new owner, and having a neophyte G.M. as well as a neophyte head coach how confident was he that Cleveland would have a successful season. The Cavaliers owner replied “I went to Michigan State, I’m not sure I know the meaning of the word neophyte.”

Dan Gilbert is an extremely intelligent man, of course he knew that neophyte means somebody who is a beginner or a novice. He got himself a laugh out of the response, and probably lightened the atmosphere of the event with his levity. And with the hirings he announced that day the Cavaliers have had a great run of prosperity. They have made the NBA Playoffs all three seasons since Ferry and Brown took the helm, including the team’s first appearance in the NBA Finals, in 2007. Last season they took the eventual NBA Champs the Boston Celtics to a seven game series. Neither Detroit who played them in the Eastern Conference Finals, or the Lakers who played them in the Finals got past six games against Boston.

The “Associated Press” reported Thursday night that Gilbert talked with reporters Thursday on the eve of NBA training camp. Of course as when anybody from the Cleveland Cavaliers organization are interviewed the subject quickly turns to the “Franchise” All-Star forward LeBron James. And as always happens at least one reporter will ask about LBJ leaving when he has an opt-out clause in his contract in the Summer of 2010.

The Cavaliers Team Owner will eternally have my respect for his response. Gilbert said to reporters “It’s kind of an insult to the city of Cleveland in my opinion; an insult to the Midwest. People in your profession are very bored on both sides of the country. There’s no basketball going on so they write this stuff. I think we’re one of the top organizations in the NBA. I think we’re going to compete for a championship in the next year or two and we’ll worry about that summer when it comes.”

It is just conjecture on my part, but I think that Gilbert was just being diplomatic when he put the blame on outside media. He realizes that it is basically a cottage industry in Cleveland predicting when that next big superstar is going to move on to greener pastures. Part of it is a deep seated feeling among fans from Cleveland that they don’t deserve to have the elite players. And if somehow they luck into one it’s just a matter of time before they move on.

Unfortunately part of it is also almost a Pavlovian response to the past. For over a decade they have seen their athletes abandon Cleveland. In 1995 the city actually lost an entire team as the “Real Browns” moved to Baltimore.

With all the great players that came up through the Cleveland Indians farm system since the early 1990’s the best always left. Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez, both almost locks to make it to Cooperstown, left years ago. This Summer the Tribe lost Cy Young winner CC Sabathia as he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for prospects. Sabathia Sunday pitched Milwaukee into the NLDS as he defeated the Cubs to put the Brewers in the post season.

And then of course was the colossal blunder by former Cavaliers Team Owner Gordon Gund and Jim Paxson that allowed Carlos Boozer to become an unrestricted free agent. Boozer has gotten a bad rap for years in Cleveland, but it was Paxson’s error that allowed Boozer to leave. Boozer’s hero growing up was Karl Malone. When he had the chance to play for the Mailman’s old team and old coach, it was like a dream come true. When a veteran General Manager counts on some body’s alleged promise, than they are best naive.

I did not approve at the time, and to this day I still think that Gilbert was wrong at firing Paul Silas when he did. However Gilbert, Ferry, and Brown have given life to a franchise that was on life support before LBJ came to town. I agree with his assessment of his team with the addition of Mo Williams and signing restricted free agent guard Delonte West, they are now one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference. Reigning NBA Champs the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland in my mind are now the three best teams in the Conference. I believe that Detroit by staying pat has allowed other teams to pass them by.

Gilbert has done every thing that a good team owner has to do, since hiring his management team. He has spent the money that he has needed to put the Cavaliers in the upper tier of NBA franchises. He realizes maybe better than anyone, how much his team, and the city of Cleveland needs to retain LeBron James. I am not a betting man. However, if I were I would not bet against Dan Gilbert.

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