INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers made a big change with another season falling apart, firing general manager Chris Grant on Thursday.
[b]Martin Prado Jersey[/b] . Grant was fired a day after the Cavs dropped their sixth straight game, an embarrassing home loss to a Los Angeles Lakers team that started with eight players and finished with five. Vice president of basketball operations David Griffin will serve as acting general manager. Owner Dan Gilbert made it clear hes unhappy with what has transpired in a season that began with hopes the Cavs would make the playoffs after a three-year absence. "This has been a very difficult period for the franchise," Gilbert said in a statement. "We have severely underperformed against expectations. Just as this is completely unacceptable to our loyal and passionate fan base, season ticket holders and corporate partners, it is also just as unacceptable to our ownership group." Gilbert also met with reporters at the teams training facility following the announcement. He expressed confidence that the Cavs can show improvement under coach Mike Brown over the final 33 games. Grant was instrumental in the rehiring of Brown, who was fired during his first stint with the team in 2010. Gilbert was asked if Browns job was safe for the rest of this season. "Were going to see Mike Brown succeed this year because I think that hell be able to do good things and I think this team will be able to do good things," Gilbert said. "I think theyre going to look at each other and theyre going to look in the mirror and theyre going to rally." Gilbert also was asked why he decided to change his general manager but not his coach. "Coach Brown has only been here over half a season," he said. "Chris Grant has been here 8 1/2 years. Hes been the general manager almost four years. Theres a lot of talent on this team. I think everybody knows that." Gilbert promised last spring the Cavs would not return to the NBA lottery, but Cleveland is 16-33 and has dropped six in a row -- matching its longest losing streak of the season. The Cavs are 5 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference and their only win in the last nine games came over Milwaukee, which has the leagues worst record. "Accountability starts with me," Gilbert said. "I take responsibility for where were at." Grants tenure will be known for not being able to rebuild the Cavs fast enough despite having a slew of first-round draft picks, including two No. 1 overall selections. Grant addressed the teams poor play last week, saying everyone in the organization was accountable, including himself. Grant took Anthony Bennett with the first pick last June and then signed free-agent centre Andrew Bynum during the summer when no other team would offer the 7-footer a contract. Grant was able to unload Bynum in a trade with Chicago for Luol Deng, but the forwards arrival has done little to invigorate the Cavs. Cleveland has been under .500 since the fifth game of the season and the players have been slow to pick up Browns system on both ends of the floor. In a season thats already had too many low moments, the Cavs hit rock bottom Wednesday. Not only did they fall behind by 29 points to Los Angeles, the Lakers played the final few minutes with five healthy players, including one who was allowed to remain in the game after committing his sixth foul because coach Mike DAntoni was out of bodies. The Cavs were booed throughout the game and Brown, who has been unable to come up with any answers to stop his teams skid, benched All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving and three other starters in the fourth quarter as Cleveland got back in the game before losing 119-108. The acquisition of Deng last month brought hope the season could be salvaged, but that proved to be temporary. The Cavs went 3-2 on a West Coast trip, but followed that with a 1-4 record on its longest homestand of the season. Cleveland then lost three consecutive road games, including a 31-point rout by the Knicks on national television. Grant joined the organization in 2005 as vice-president of basketball operations/assistant general manager. He was hired as general manager on June 4, 2010. Griffin was hired later that year after spending 17 seasons with the Phoenix Suns, the last three as the clubs senior vice-president of basketball operations.
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[b]Brian Anderson Jersey[/b] .com) - Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett is active for Sundays matchup with the Miami Dolphins.CLEVELAND -- Jason Giambis 19th season didnt go as planned. Hes not sure there will be a 20th. As the Indians closed 2014 short of the playoffs, Giambi said Sunday he hasnt decided whether hell try to extend a major league playing career that began with Oakland in 1995. Ive been playing this game since I was five years old, the 43-year-old said before the Indians finished a three-game series with Tampa Bay. Thats your whole life. If you look at it, its 40 years of doing the same thing. Its been unbelievable. Its been fun. But, I still havent made a decision about what Im going to do yet. Who knows? Maybe somebodys looking for a broken down 44-year-old to kind of take a few extra hacks. Giambi didnt contribute much on the field this season. He broke a rib during spring training and began the year on the disabled list. He was also on the DL with a strained calf and sore left knee. Entering Sundays game, he was batting just .133 with two homers and five RBIs in 60 at-bats. However, Giambis influence off the field couldnt be quantified. The Indians re-signed him to a minor league contract after last season, knowing he would be a positive influence on young players throughout their organization. Giambi did just that as a role model, mentor and leader. He also graciously gave up his NNo.
[b]Starlin Castro Jersey[/b]. . 25 to Jim Thome, when the former Indians slugger wanted to retire with Cleveland. Giambi went to back No. 72, the number he wore when he first went to camp with the Athletics. Indians manager Terry Francona said everyone -- players, coaches and even a manager who has won two World Series titles -- learned from Giambi. This guy brings so much and hes so special to be around that you savour it and take what you can because he has a lot of offer, Francona said. With 440 career homers, Giambi is 41st on the career list. Hes not sure if that number will grow, and doesnt know what uniform hell wear next -- or if hell put one on at all. He was a finalist for Colorados managerial job in 2012 and Francona knows Giambi is going to do whatever he wants to do. For now, Giambi is only making one off-season commitment. Ill go home and enjoy my family, he said. Thats the biggest thing Ive got on my plate right now, just go home and enjoy every minute of that. And then Ill worry about what the universe has got in store for me next. I have not made one decision. Theres some teams Im sure that have kind of been asking my agent what Im going to do, but I dont even want to know who it is. I dont care right now. I just want to go home and enjoy my kids and have fun. ' ' '
