Immediately after news hit of the Cleveland Cavaliers firing general manager Chris Grant on Thursday afternoon, names of potential replacements started circulating. Cleveland named David Griffin active general manager for now, and he is expected to have a shot at landing the position permanently, but there are plenty of other candidates as well.
NBA news roundup: Rumored Cavs general manager candidates, no Evan Turner trade?
The Cleveland Cavaliers have many candidates to choose from on their GM search, and Evan Turner might last the season in Philly.
Jason Miller
Former general managers Chris Wallace, Glen Grunwald and Jeff Bower were all suggested in a report by CBS' Ken Berger, as were big names like Phil Jackson and Donnie Walsh. Berger also mentioned Raptors assistant GM Jeff Weltman, Bucks assistant GM David Morway and Clippers GM Gary Sacks, along with lesser known executives such as Knicks director of player personnel Mark Hughes and Oklahoma City assistant GM Michael Winger.
"This is the most challenging time in almost nine years we've owned this franchise," Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert said in a press conference to announce Grant's firing, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and, though Gilbert didn't guarantee that head coach Mike Brown's job is secure, he said he believed in Brown and the team that the GM he just fired had put together:
Gilbert on Brown's job: We’re going to see Mike Brown succeed this year. I think he will be able to do good things in the next 30 games.
— M.S. Boyer/J. Valade (@PDcavsinsider) February 6, 2014 Could Evan Turner remain in Philadelphia?
Rumors about Philadelphia 76ers swingman Evan Turner have persisted ever since general manager Sam Hinkie took over last offseason. Now it appears that he might end up playing out the season in Philly, via Bleacher Report's Jared Zwerling:
Source: Evan Turner will likely not get traded, but could change if Philly can get a 1st-pound pick. Turner will be a pricey attractive FA.
— Jared Zwerling (@JaredZwerling) February 6, 2014 All along it has been clear that the Sixers wanted a first-round pick and/or young players in return for Turner. The former No. 2 overall pick has put up the best per-game numbers of his career this season, but has never figured to be in Hinkie's long-term plans. The fact that Turner is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season is unquestionably an obstacle in dealing him, but even Philadelphia head coach Brett Brown admitted recently that he didn't expect to still have the same core pieces he started with at the beginning of the season:
#Sixers Brown on trade rumors: 'It's been an incredible surprise to have our team intact this late in the year.'
— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) February 3, 2014 The trade deadline isn’t until Feb. 20, though, and it’s not like the Sixers are suddenly going to stop exploring their options with Turner. He might no longer be seen as a lock to get moved, but there is still time for a deal to get done.
Mario Chalmers fined $5,000 for flopping
Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers was fined $5,000 for his second flopping violation, the league announced on Thursday. The flop occurred halfway through the third quarter of the Heat's game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday:
Chalmers had received a warning for his first flopping violation, which occurred on Jan. 20 against the Atlanta Hawks. The next time he is caught, he will be fined a cool $10,000.
Lakers lose Nick Young to injury, sign Shawne Williams
Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Nick Young will be sidelined for at least two weeks due to a non-displaced fracture of the patella and a bone bruise, the team announced on Thursday. Young suffered the injury during Wednesday's bizarre game against the Cavaliers, one of the reasons why Los Angeles ended up playing Robert Sacre after he had fouled out of the game.
To try to compensate for Young’s injury, the Lakers signed forward Shawne Williams to a 10-day contract, via a press release from the team. Williams played 32 games for the team earlier this season, before being waived and latching on with its D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders. He averaged 19.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per game for the D-Fenders, and hit seven three-pointers on Wednesday. He should provide the Lakers with some additional shooting.
Spurs sit starters on national television again
The San Antonio Spurs will once again rest several starters on national television when they face the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. According to head coach Gregg Popovich, San Antonio's starting lineup will be Cory Joseph, Nando De Colo, Marco Belinelli, Danny Green and Tiago Splitter. Popovich announced it in an entertaining way, appearing to forget that Joseph is Canadian:
Pop: "The starters are two Americans, a Frenchman, an Italian and a Brazilian. You can figure it out."
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) February 6, 2014 Tony Parker is missing the game with back spasms, Manu Ginobili with a tight left hamstring, and Kawhi Leonard with a broken hand. Tim Duncan is resting and Boris Diaw is ill.
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