Apparently, the Cleveland Cavaliers are being operated differently these days as team owner Dan Gilbert continues his recovery from a stroke suffered in May 2019.
According to Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, it’s actually been Gilbert’s son, Grant Gilbert, who has been overseeing things behind the scenes. Along the way, Grant Gilbert is preparing to take over the franchise, the report stated, citing multiple sources.
That included a source who “constantly does business” with the Cavs.
Grant Gilbert, 23, currently serves as the Cavs’ director of content and brand strategy.
“He’s definitely gonna take over,” Vardon and Lloyd quoted the source as saying about Grant Gilbert. “His dad’s not able, and he’s the next in line.’”
Another source was quoted as saying that Grant Gilbert is taking a bigger role, but as of now, “has zero experience” running a franchise.
The report added that Grant Gilbert regularly consults with the basketball operations team, led by general manager Koby Altman, so that Gilbert can stay “in the know” about the team’s plans.
“That’s not my everyday focus,” Grant Gilbert said, via The Athletic. “I’m not making decisions and planning my life based on that. There are a lot of things I want to do. I’m sure there are a lot of things I don’t know that I want to do that, hopefully, I’ll end up doing. But in terms of staying engaged and helping impact and being involved (with the Cavs), that’s something I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Dan Gilbert, 59, has owned the Cavs since March 2005. He founded Rock Financial with brother Gary Gilbert in 1985, growing the company into one of the largest independent mortgage lenders in the country. Dan Gilbert has five children.
As an aside, the Cavs have “vigorously refuted” the idea that Grant Gilbert will take over the franchise, per the report.
Yahoo Sports reported Tuesday that the Cavs could be mulling changes to the front office.
The Cavs are 16-27 and in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Altman has been working on potential trades ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. EST deadline to make a deal.
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