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David Griffin, 7th in EOY Voting, Gets No Love

ByJared Mueller|
Feb 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin talks with the media before the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin talks with the media before the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers GM David Griffin is getting very little respect for the work he did for the Cavs.

Today came the results of the NBA’s Executive of the Year voting. With the Cavs having the 3rd best record in the league and the #1 seed in the East, David Griffin should do well right?

7th?

Now, don’t get me wrong, R.C. Buford was impressive this off-season. He was able to get the prized free agent that changed teams, LeMarcus Aldridge. Not only that, Buford was able to get David West to sign in San Antonio instead of with the Cavaliers.

Neil Olshey lost Aldridge, traded Nicolas Batum and still had a very good season.

Bob Myers’ team won an NBA record of 73 wins, impressive.

This isn’t to attack any of those with more votes than Griffin. Instead, it is important to give credit to the work that Griff did this season, something the votes show very little love for.

Re-signed Kevin Love

The first official move made this off-season was bringing back the one man that many were not sure would return to Cleveland, Kevin Love. The Stretch 4 was an unrestricted free agent and could have signed anywhere. After a tough first season in Cleveland, many didn’t believe he would return to Cleveland.

Griffin got him to return, for a full 5 seasons.

Re-signed Iman Shumpert

An interesting move, the Cavs brought back Shumpert quickly as a Restricted Free Agent. Shump’s contract was costly, 4 years, $40 million, but starting next year it could be considered a steal.

Shump still comes off the bench but provides the Cavs with a defensive star who fits in between Kyrie Irving and LeBron James perfectly. If J.R. Smith doesn’t return, Griff made sure the Cavs have a starting shooting guard for the long-term.

Hopefully, Shump can develop his offense more and more.

Re-signed LeBron James

James was returning, barring something crazy, so Griffin isn’t given a ton of credit here. Many give LeBron credit for Love returning as well. Credit has to go to the GM for putting the Cavs in position to get both LeBron and Love so that they could be re-signed.

That LeBron trusts Griffin enough as the team’s GM is huge. If LBJ was not impressed, Griff would be out of a job. There is something to be said for that.

Signed Mo Williams

When Irving went out, the Cavs were limited at the point guard spot. Many Cavs fans wanted Mo to return via trade a year ago, which would have been tough.

Instead, Griffin was able to get Williams to sign for a veteran’s minimum level contract. Williams allowed the Cavs to survive and play well while Irving was out early this season.

While Mo hasn’t played many minutes after Irving’s return, he gives the Cavs great depth if and when needed. Griffin made sure the Cavs were not short-handed if needed.

Re-signed James Jones

Jones is THE big veteran presence on the Cavs roster. His presence off the court is more valuable than what he gives the team on the court. However, on the court Jones is still a versatile weapon that could come in handy in case of injury.

Re-signed Matthew Dellavedova

Delly was a big time star in last year’s NBA Playoffs but found little interest on the market as a Restricted Free Agent. Griffin was able to get Delly back in Cleveland on a one year deal, which will make him a Restrcited Free Agent once again next year.

Not only did Griff keep a very important defender, with an improving offensive game, but made sure he had a chance to retain him after this season.

Re-signed J.R. Smith

J.R.’s market was going to be an interesting one, similar to Delly’s except as an Unrestricted Free Agent. J.R. showed that he could be a professional player with the Cavs but was given little credit on the Free Agent Market. Instead, he returned to the Cavs for 2 years with about $4 million guaranteed. If he picks up the 2nd year of his contract he will earn just over $10 million for those 2 years.

Instead of overpaying, like some believe he did for Shump, Griffin held his ground and got a very team friendly contract for their starting 2 guard with a sweet stroke.

Re-signed Tristan Thompson

Another Restricted Free Agent, Thompson and his agent played hardball with the Cavs, even though LeBron made it clear he expected Tristan to return. Griffin didn’t get the deal done till right before the season started but he did get Thompson back.

Carlos Boozer was the last Restricted Free Agent power forward the Cavs didn’t want to lose and we all know how that ended.

Thompson still got a big deal but he has proven his worth as the Cavs long-term starting center. He is needed around a lot of offensive minded players and can finish around the rim.

Griffin didn’t give in to Thompson’s demand for a 5 year, $94 million or 3 year, $53 million deals, instead holding tight to 5 years, $82 million. Still a ton of money but, much like Anderson Varejao‘s first big deal, will seem like a bargain sooner rather than later.

Traded For Channing Frye & $10 Million TPE

Channing Frye was a huge part of the Cavs winning Game 3 against the Hawks. Griffin was able to get him for nothing more than a 2nd Round pick. Griff could have just traded Varejao and a 1st Round pick to get rid of his contract.

Instead, he got Frye and turned Varejao into another $10 plus million Traded Player Exception, the same type of exception that allowed them to get Frye without dealing more salary. Who knows what Griffin can turn that into next year?

Signed Jordan McRae

After making roster space, many expected the Cavs to sign a solid veteran presence. Griff and the Cavs, particular LeBron James, pushed for Joe Johnson. Johnson wanted to start and get tons of minutes in Miami.

Griffin then signed McRae to a 10-day contract before signing him for the rest of the season and the following season. McRae gives the Cavs a young, big guard to develop around the rest of their more veteran roster.

With Mo Williams likely to opt out, and J.R. Smith with the option to do so, McRae can be an important part of the team next year. He showed very well in his short time on the court this season.

Griffin gets credit for not just signing a random veteran and instead looking long-term.

Firing David Blatt, Hiring Tyronn Lue

A move that was met with a lot of drama and ink, Griff decided the Cavs needed a different voice and named Lue his guy. Blatt took the Cavs to the NBA Finals, and 2 wins in the Finals, in his first year in the NBA. It wasn’t enough to keep his job.

Early in his stead as the Cavs head guy, many questioned Lue’s decisions. Only in the NBA Playoffs has Lue proved Griffin right.

Griff’s guts to move on from a coach that brought the team to the Finals, on a team with a very good record and looking to return to the Finals, was impressive. That it worked means Griff should get a ton of credit.

More from King James Gospel

So why review all of the Cavs moves this year? When you look at all of these moves, 11 noted, its impossible not to see all the great work done by Cavs GM David Griffin.

So why didn’t he get credit? Most believe it is LeBron James. James, with all his power, has notably been involved in more moves than his first stint with the Cavs. These people believe anyone could have done the job Griffin did.

Griff’s history before James returned, getting LeBron to return and all the maneuvers (big and small) tell us that Griffin is a high quality General Manager that deserved far more credit than he received in the Executive of the Year voting.

Do you think David Griffin deserved more credit or do you discount him because of LeBron?