Embarrassing story emerges about Cavaliers owner's expensive playoff investment

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ playoff exit came as a huge shock and disappointment to everyone associated with the franchise. That includes owner Dan Gilbert, who was planning for a big party throughout the postseason.

Jason Lloyd of The Athletic revealed Wednesday that Gilbert spent $500K on fake snow machines to be put in the ceiling at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The machines were meant to douse the seating area in confetti when the Cavaliers went on a huge offensive run, which came to be dubbed as a “Cavalanche” during the regular season.

The Cavaliers’ issues in the playoffs made the “Cavalanche” machines essentially useless. Gilbert’s investment was used just once during the entire postseason.

The lone usage came in Game 2 of the team’s first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Miami Heat, which the Cavs went on to win. To be fair to Gilbert, the effect is actually pretty cool.