Dan Gilbert and Chauncey Billups
Dan Gilbert and Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Billups, who lead the Detroit Pistons to an NBA championship in 2004, is interested in taking over as general manager of Dan Gilbert's Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland.com reports.
The job opened up on Monday after General Manager David Griffin and Gilbert parted ways. Reports said the two mutually agreed not to extend the contract, which expired at the end of the month.
Joe Vardan of Cleveland.com reports:
Billups, 40, an ESPN analyst who is close with James and Cavs coach Tyronn Lue, has eyed the potential opening in Cleveland, though he has no front-office experience. He was working behind the scenes to put himself in front of Cleveland power brokers during games 3 and 4 of the Finals, sources said.
Billups, a likeable guy and five time All Star, played in the NBA for 17 seasons. He played for the Pistons from 2002 to 2008 and then went on to play for three other teams before returning to the Pistons in 2013. He finished up his NBA career in 2014 in Detroit.
Chauncey Billups and the Cleveland Cavaliers have mutual interest in a front-office role for the retired NBA player, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
Billups has had a relationship with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert for more than a decade since Billups endorsed Rock Financial, Gilbert's Detroit-based mortgage company, when the former guard was a member of the Detroit Pistons.
Gilbert and Billups are expected to meet Tuesday, sources told Windhorst.