Gilbert learns a lot in one year
Move to background helps Cavs owner earn respect and confidence
By Terry Pluto
<!-- begin body-content -->A year after becoming the owner of the Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert has begun to figure things out.
He came across as an overbearing owner who fired coach Paul Silas only 20 days after taking over the team when the Cavs were 34-30. He then went to war with most of the media. He was seen by Cavs fans as a guy who had a love affair with the Detroit Pistons and former coach Larry Brown because his Quicken Loans Company is based in Detroit, where he grew up.
Some fans compared him to former Cavs owner Ted Stepien. Others suggested that he would drive LeBron James out of town when the star became a free agent.
Now, he seems like the best hope of keeping James. He's matured into an owner who has learned from his mistakes and has been content to stay in the background and let General Manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown do the talking.
``They are the face of the franchise, and that's how I want it to be,'' Gilbert said in a phone interview Tuesday.
Gilbert has said little publicly since hiring Ferry last June 27. He gave a brief news conference on opening night and has stayed quiet since.
``When we first took over the team, I was out there by default,'' he said. ``Changes were coming (in the front office), and it fell to me. But now that we have the right people in place, I want to support Danny and Mike all that I can, but I let them deal with the media.''
Ferry said that he did extensive background checks on Gilbert and that they spoke several times before he became the general manager. Gilbert quickly agreed to give Ferry complete control of the basketball operations.
``I'm telling you that our relationship has been better than I ever expected,'' Ferry said. ``I needed to feel very comfortable with Dan, and he's allowed me to do my job. Whatever I need, he's been there.''
Last spring, Gilbert gave some ill-advised interviews in which it seemed that he had a lot of basketball opinions that were better kept to himself. He then was upset with Internet reports and other rumors, half-truths and what he considered to be misconceptions about himself and his plans for the team.
``I discovered the NBA is a different animal,'' he said. ``It's not like any other business. Everything you do and say is in a fishbowl.''
Ferry in charge
In some ways, the intense criticism that Gilbert faced, along with the strange courting of Larry Brown, has led to a stable situation for the Cavaliers.
``Dan took such a beating last year,'' Ferry said. ``At first, even I was scared about the situation. But as I got to know Dan, I found the opposite was true. He really wants to be a good owner and do it the right way.''
Since hiring Ferry and Brown, Gilbert has continually received good reviews from the fans. He now says little but has done much.
You can talk about the $12 million that he invested in Quicken Loans Arena for a new scoreboard, new seats, upgrading the concourse and the dressing rooms.
Or that he's bringing a branch of his Quicken Loans business to Cleveland, which will bring some jobs to an economy that can really use some good news.
Or the $150 million that he committed to free agents Larry Hughes, Damon Jones, Donyell Marshall and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
Or that he's allowed Ferry to pick the free agents, to make trades, to be a real general manager.
``Everything Dan does is first class,'' Ferry said. ``He's very upbeat. He's not panicked when we've had some losing streaks. He is very curious. We talk nearly every day. But he doesn't tell me what to do.''
Said Gilbert: ``This is a new role for me. I'm one of the people helping to put together the research to present to Danny, but he makes the final decision. In my business, it's usually people bringing the research to me. I give him thoughts and opinions, but he makes the final call.''
Better understanding
The Cavaliers head into tonight's game against the Sacramento Kings on a four-game losing streak with a 32-25 record.
A year ago, Gilbert seemed panicked that the Cavs would miss the playoffs. Now, he seems to better understand the natural roller-coaster nature of the NBA.
``We're stable, and I love how these guys work with no hidden agendas,'' Gilbert said.
He has to stay committed to Ferry and Brown. They are his guys, and both are rookies in their current positions. Gilbert seems to understand that they need room to put their signature on a franchise that has not been to the playoffs in seven years. Only the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors have been out of the playoffs longer.
``It's important for us to make it, and I see no reason why that won't happen,'' he said. ``We're going in the right direction. We have to go through some pain to get there, but I believe we will.''
That only will happen if the Cavs can keep James happy. Gilbert has made a point to get to know James' family and close, trusted friends. He knows that James wants to win, and that he doesn't like changing players, coaches and other key people each year.
Money won't be the question because the Cavs can offer more than any other team in terms of years and dollars thanks to the NBA salary cap. They can offer James an extension for the first time this summer -- five years at about $75 million under NBA rules.
``We're doing all we can to keep LeBron here for his entire career,'' Gilbert said. ``There is nothing I see that indicates he wants to play elsewhere. We have a good relationship, and he knows we are committed to winning.''
Gilbert has found that fan opinion of his ownership is changing. It is now far more positive, fans seeing that he's willing to spend money. And he has stayed in the background.
He said he's reviewing everything from game presentation to the noise and music at the arena to anything else that might concern the fans. He wants fans to write him at the Cavs at
[email protected] on the Internet.
``I read everything that comes in that way,'' he said. ``I like Cleveland. It's a hard-working, friendly area.
``People have been warm and open to me. I know that there is a sense that the other shoe is about to drop because it's been 40-some years since a championship (of any major sports team in Cleveland). But I understand that, and we're chipping away at it. Our goal is to deliver for the fans.''