New coach

[NarlCavs]

I still can't see Jackson coming here. He might be Gilbert's top choice but I don't think the Cavs are Jackson's top choice.
I think the Cavs checked out Jackson and made a run at him but it failed. It's best just to move on so they don't lose out on the other top candidates while chasing after a dream they can't get. They need to get Saunders or Musselman. If they don't than they're pretty much screwed.

 

[Karma]

• If the Cavaliers are sincerely interested in Flip Saunders, they should move quickly. The Portland Trail Blazers have been very aggressive and have reportedly offered a multiyear deal that could be worth as much as $8 million annually. Portland has been interested in Saunders ever since the end of the season -- and tried to hire Saunders a few years ago, when he decided to return to Minnesota.

• It's also clear that Saunders has a strong interest in Cleveland, being from here (Cuyahoga Heights High). He also would love to coach LeBron James. The Cavaliers' owners have talked to Saunders, but so far, no offer has been made. Meanwhile, Portland continues to pursue the veteran coach.

• Yes, the Cavaliers did talk to Eric Musselman. But it seems the team wanting Musselman the most is the Orlando Magic, who have had serious talks with him. Musselman has a relationship with David Morway, the Indiana Pacers executive who is under serious consideration to be the Cavaliers' next general manager.

• If Saunders goes to Portland and Musselman to Orlando, that leaves Phil Jackson and Larry Brown as other possible top-level candidates. So far, Jackson has expressed little interest in the job. Maybe it's a different story behind the scenes, but word remains he'll probably end up with the Los Angeles Lakers.

• Many NBA executives say the Cavaliers want Brown, who has said he doesn't plan to coach anywhere but Detroit next season. That does leave open the possibility of him being a GM elsewhere, and perhaps that's Dan Gilbert's plan. Brown does have three years left on his contract with Detroit, and it's hard to imagine the Pistons letting him go to division rival Cleveland as a coach.

• Brown as a GM? That seems a stretch, as he is known for sometimes impulsively changing his mind. He is probably better suited to coaching. Those rumors about Chuck Daly coaching here seem outlandish. He's almost 75 and might end up as a consultant, but Daly has expressed no interest in returning to the bench. He's had several offers the last few years since leaving Orlando in 1999.

• Nate McMillan's contract is up, but he's expected to remain in Seattle. He loves that town; his son is a high school star there. It would be hard for him to move, and it would be a public-relations disaster for the Sonics to lose their popular coach.

• Some rumors have Scott Skiles coming to the Cavaliers, but he has a year left on his contract with the Chicago Bulls. He would like an extension. The Bulls would have to let him out of his contract to come here, and why would they do that? Skiles took the Bulls to the playoffs and did one of the NBA's best coaching jobs.

• Gilbert isn't consulting with me, but he should just hire Saunders and get his organization moving in the right direction with an experienced coach who knows the market and has instant respect in the league. The new ownership needs to establish credibility with the fans, and Saunders can do that.

Pluto

New Coach, new GM. Lets get something done.

 

[Karma]

So this is where we lie :

Phil Jackson - keep dreaming

Flip Saunders - pricing himself out of Cleveland maybe. Apprently after meeting Gilbert, felt a little uneasy as he seen Gilbert as a meddler.

Eric Musselman - still in contention here and in Orlando. He prefers the Magic, but do they prefer him.

Scott Skiles - Chicago wont let him go.

Nate McMillan - Cavs want to talk to him, but will they wait till June 30 and risk missing everyone?

 

[NarlCavs]

It's looking like Musselman is probably the guy. The Cavs need to move forward with the GM hire. If Morway is Gilbert's choice than he should be hired this week.
I keep thinking that if the Cavs drag this whole process out that they will lose out on all the top coaching candidates. They have to make the right choice for coach and not settle for one once again.

I did read somewhere today about Saunders asking price beign too high and that he also didn't get a good impression of Gilbert when he interviewed with him and wasn't sure if he could work with him.
Musselman is the strong candidate for Orlando so the Cavs can't think they will get him for sure.

 

[NarlCavs]

Brian Windhorst reported in today's Beacon Journal that the rumors around the NBA are that Gilbert and the Cavs have only budgeted $2.5 million for a head coach.
That won't get them the best available candidates. Top coaches get paid much more. Even Silas was getting $4 million a year.

Hopefully this isn't true. If it is then it's a bad sign. Gilbert can't go cheap and settle for 2nd rate coaches or ones who will agree to less just to get a job.

There also continue to be rumors linking Larry Brown to the Cavs. Most likely as a GM or team president.
I'm not in favor of Brown in either of those roles. He doesn't have the personality for them. The Cavs need a stable GM who will look long term and be committed to the team long term. That isn't Larry Brown.
I also am not in favor of having to wait until July 1 to interview candidates like Brown or McMillan. There's no guarantee either wil take a job and then the Cavs are left with nothing to choose from.

The GM and coach positions need to be filled by early June. This might be the most important summer in Cavs history. They need to be completely prepared to make the right decisions when the offseason officially opens.

 

[Karma]

Surely that figure of 2.5 is incorrect. Gilbert couldn't of spent all those dollars just to go all cheap on us in a vital position. Could he?

These doubts will linger whilst noone puts pen to paper.

 

[Glen Infante]

I don't believe that. Gilbert can't be going cheap on us can he? Everyone raves about the stash this man carries and now all of a sudden he's going El Cheapo on the coaching job. I really hope that report isn't true.

 

[King]

It better not be true. With all that money he's spending renovating the Gund, it would be really stupid for him to close his wallet on hiring one of the most important parts of a team's sucess.

 

[NarlCavs]

I agree. I hope this isn't true. There was also a similar rumor in a Seattle paper about Gilbert not wanting to spend big bucks on coach.

This summer could make or break the future of this franchise and how much success they might be able to attain in the coming years. I'm getting worried that little Danny Gilbert could end up messing it all up. I'm still holding out hope that the right moves will get made but I'm getting less confident as time passes.

 

[Karma]

Gilbert, speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, said the Cavaliers ``are undergoing a massive transformation'' and that he will announce the hiring of a new coach, new general manager and president in the next one to two weeks.

If this time frame is true, then that means both Sund and McMillan are out of contention. We cannot talk to either of them till after June 30. A combination of Larry Brown, Mike Brown, Eric Musselman and Morway seem to be our remaining names. Which way will we go?

 

[Karma]

Cavaliers interim coach Brendan Malone is still under contract for another season. If he's not added to the new coaching staff, the Cavaliers could create a position for him. ... Jim O'Brien, fired as Philadelphia's coach on Monday, isn't thought to be a candidate in Cleveland.

Ok so O'Brien is out and we already know Malone was not being considered. Keeping Malone around would be a positive thing, just so the players do have a familiar face around.

 

[Pioneer10]

I'll repeat again I do NOT want Brown as our GM. He is a build for one to two year and run sort of guy.

Now if he was willing to coach then yes. Even though him and Lebron didn't exactly get along, he'll atleast force Lebron to learn how to play some D

 

[NarlCavs]

I agree Pioneer. I don't like Brown as GM or in charge of personnel matters either. He doesn't have the makeup or attributes needed in a GM. He also wouldn't stay here long term. Brown is always looking for his next job. The Cavs need a stable quality front office who's committed to staying here.

I would be fine with the Morway/Musselman combo that's been rumored and discussed. I do think a new team president will be hired along with a GM.

 

[Karma]

I dont totally agree with you guys. I believe Brown has come to the point in his life where he doesn't want to jump from one thing to another. The less stress the better. He said and maintained that Detroit will be his last coaching stop. I can see him making his next step into being a GM / President as being his final NBA tilt.

I am not saying he is option No.1. But I do believe he could be good for this franchise. Some professionalism will not go astray.

 

[Pioneer10]

I dont totally agree with you guys. I believe Brown has come to the point in his life where he doesn't want to jump from one thing to another. The less stress the better. He said and maintained that Detroit will be his last coaching stop. I can see him making his next step into being a GM / President as being his final NBA tilt.

I am not saying he is option No.1. But I do believe he could be good for this franchise. Some professionalism will not go astray.

I simply don't trust Larry Brown. He basically has said the same crap for the last 10 years: I love it here, this will be my last stop, the stress is getting to me. This has occurred in Indiana, Philly, AND Detriot. He is a great coach especially in planning for games but he has never shown the patience in coaching or as GM to develop players. In Philly he constantly traded away young valuable assests for stopgap solutions and in the Olympics instead of working in players who actually improved (i.e. Lebron who he started praisnign at the end) he still tried to send a message

Coach: Yes
Face of the Franchise: Yes
Personnel Decision: An emphatic NO