The Cleveland Cavaliers still don’t have a replacement for David Griffin.
Though they’ve offered the president of basketball operations position to Chauncey Billups, owner Dan Giblert’s first choice for the role, they have yet to hear his answer. And apparently, according to NBA.com’s David Aldridge, he has yet to intimate which way he’s leaning:
Chauncey Billups still "status quo" regarding Cavs' GM offer. No decision imminent as of this morning.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) June 26, 2017
That Billups hasn’t made a decision yet is ominous, even if he ends up accepting.
Yes, he’s made plenty of money and has a comfy gig for ESPN. But, per multiple reports, he’s been preparing for an opportunity like this. To decline it, or contemplate not taking it, says a lot about the state of the Cavaliers. They have the best player alive, in LeBron James, and a core that’s made three straight NBA Finals appearances, with a wide-open path to a fourth. Billups’ indecision suggests that he doesn’t have confidence in the team’s ability to keep LeBron after this season.
And who can blame him? Never mind that Gilbert likely ruffled his feathers by getting rid of Griffin. Think about where the Cavaliers will be if James leaves. Both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love will be entering the last year of their deals in 2018-19 (player options), and Cleveland won’t have all its future picks. That’s a crappy position in which to start your rebuild.
Billups is super intelligent and no doubt aware of this. Chances are it’s this doomsday scenario that’s keeping him on the fence more than anything else. And if he’s honest with himself, it’s probably enough to get him to refuse the position altogether.
