The Point-Fourward: Back and Forth We Go

Four points I’m thinking about the NBA…

1. Here in sunny Berlin, I just shared a delightful walk along the canal. My buddy had his lovely six-month-old daughter in tow. Or shall I say, he pushed her around in one of those fancy multipurpose strollers that might be able to do your taxes if you could execute the manual’s page 34 properly. It’s an absolutely gorgeous day full of people enjoying the park. In Kreuzberg, most of those people seem to have babies of their own. Walking with him and his daughter, I saw countless “knowing glances” exchanged between parents. I caught some of the glances myself as more than a few people assumed that I and my friend were a happy Berlin couple, and that his little one was as much mine as his. It was as if I had joined a club without realizing it. An immediate kinship was granted simply by having had a baby-on-board.

It got me thinking about the relationships that we build through shared experience. Whether it be positive, negative, or something in between, a primary empathetic understanding is born from the obvious “I’ve been there”. Yes, our perspectives will always differ no matter how similar the circumstances, but the more we have in common, the less we criticize. As my buddy said, “I realize now that no parent ever judges me for having a crying baby.”

It’s a primary reason why ex-NBA players are more respected as coaches and executives than those who didn’t play in the association. It’s the reason why a video coordinator type has to fight an uphill battle to garner a smidgen of respect, regardless of apparent basketball acumen.

It also might be the only thing that saves this train-wreck-spilling-oil-over-a-dumpster-fire of a situation in Cleveland. With David Griffin deciding to move on(and let’s be very clear, it was ultimately his decision), the Cavs and Comic Dan Gilbert are praying that Chauncey Billups’ reputation as a leader and former All-Star point guard will give LeBron James some peace of mind going forward.

2. But did you see LeBron’s tweet?!? Yes, I did. Clearly, we should all immediately jump to the conclusion that this is the end of the line for King James 2.0 in Cleveland, and that Kyrie will immediately jump ship directly after. Or we could chill out for a second, recognize that there is a lot of mutual respect between Billups and LeBron, and consider the fact that that player-to-player respect may be the saving grace in an otherwise strange narrative.

It’s admittedly difficult. Mr. Big Shot is not one to back down from The Chosen One. Billups has criticized James in the past for not being a good leader and offered his theoretical reaction to LeBron’s ball spin. We could easily conclude that this hire would be a power move on behalf of Dan Gilbert effectively whining “this is my team, LeBron. Mine!”

It very well may be. It would be another hometown based move that doesn’t make a lot of sense outside of the Detroit prism. Still, I would like to take LeBron’s word that he enjoys tough love and that a one time NBA Finals MVP would have the clout to push James to even greater heights.

I know. It doesn’t sound horribly likely. I would almost prefer a complete and utter lackey of a president (or GM or for whatever it is that Chauncey is currently being considered), than someone as seemingly strong-willed as Billups. It would make more sense to me if the issue of conflict was that David Griffin wanted too much power, power that ultimately should be LeBron’s, and when he wasn’t granted stated power, he felt he had to walk.

For public-relations and brand reasons, it would make sense for LeBron to outwardly support Griffin, all the while being content that the power is ultimately his. That may be the best case scenario. Like Lue for David Blatt, I hope LeBron is pulling all the strings to get people he trusts in places of import. It would give us a bit of confidence in LeBron 2.0 lasting beyond 2018.

3. Speaking of Lue for Blatt, it is rather obnoxious that the same people killing Gilbert for not consulting LeBron about Griffin’s departure (and I repeat, there was a deal offered that Griffin declined), are forgetting that Griffin reportedly did the same thing when he fired Blatt and promoted Lue. Which is it? Either we think LeBron should be consulted about absolutely everything, or we think these people are all tasked with diverse jobs to do with a modicum of autonomy.

I simply can’t imagine that LeBron wasn’t consulted about both decisions. It seems insane to me that Griffin would fire Blatt or that Gilbert would allow Griffin’s contract negotiations to die without LeBron’s blessing. I just don’t buy it.

However, Griffin swears that the Blatt firing was all him. If that is true, maybe fans shouldn’t be so torn up about his departure. And similarly, if Gilbert is trying to pull a power play over LeBron with the Billups plan, fans are rightfully terrified.

4. So what was the main point of contention? In all likelihood, it was based around possible trade scenarios involving Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. Ya know. And money. There are mixed reports that contradict each other directly. Some are reporting Gilbert was against an Irving trade, while some reports state it was actually Griffin who was against it. We simply don’t know.

What is clear is that any general manager for the Cleveland Cavaliers is not fully in control of the roster as long as LeBron James is around. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it definitely makes the job less appealing to a certain kind of leader and more appealing to the another type. More importantly, it makes the job less lucrative.

Then again, a new general manager is completely free to trade anyone without seemingly contradicting previous decisions. Say LeBron and the Cavs know that they need a wing defender like Paul George and/or Jimmy Butler. It’s easier for a guy who didn’t trade for Kevin Love to trade away Kevin Love. It’s easier for that new guy to trade away Kyrie Irving in a potential blockbuster if he hasn’t spent the last few years waxing poetically about Irving’s talent.

Great leaders, business persons, or whatevers always need to balance their word from the past with the actions of the now. It’s hard to be trustworthy and have the freedom to change one’s mind without losing credibility or, conversely, flexibility. Some people cry “flip-flopper” for better and for worse. David Griffin probably felt that he couldn’t reverse his stance on Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. He might have decided to die on that hill. He may ultimately be vindicated.

Personally, I think a team with LeBron, George, and Butler would be better equipped to win a championship next season. I’m not actively for trading any of these guys(except for Shumpert. Please trade Shump), but no one on the roster should be untouchable. Yes, no one. If Gilbert agrees with that, then I guess I agree with him. If that is Griffin’s stance, I’m in his corner.

We really don’t know yet. That’s the reason I decided to go for a walk with my buddy this morning instead of immediately sitting down to write. We are going to need more information before we slip too deeply into sports despair. In the meantime, go out and get some fresh air. It’s a beautiful day.