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INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – "It's Koby's show."
That's how Dan Gilbert, owner of Cleveland Cavaliers, explained the commitment of coach John Beilein.
Koby is Koby Altman, the general manager of the Cavaliers.
Gilbert is an owner who insisted that coaches be hired (David Blatt and Mike Brown, part one). In other cases, he opted for hospitality choices (Byron Scott, Tyronn Lue and Mike Brown, Part 2).
Beilein becomes the Cavaliers' sixth coach since 2010, replacing Larry Drew. He has coached at the University of Michigan for the past 12 years. Gilbert lives in Detroit and is a supporter of the state of Michigan.
"This story that I've led this (hiring Beilein) is wrong," Gilbert said. "A few weeks ago, Koby brought me John. I obviously knew who he was, but I never met him.
"Koby put the virus in my ear and I became very interested."
After Tuesday's press conference, Gilbert and I discussed at length.
He explained how Altman had Beilin meet with a group of eight front desk employees.
"All eight liked it," said Gilbert. All eight wanted to hire him. They were interviewed individually. This caught my attention. It was a week before my meeting with John. "
THE KITCHEN MEETING
On May 10, Gilbert went to meet Beilein at the coach's home in Ann Arbor. There was no agent involved, just the owner and the coach.
"I asked him," If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ", Says Gilbert." Most people say, "I'm a workaholic … I'm a perfectionist." They rarely admit what they really need to change. "
But Beilein told Gilbert: "Sometimes I complicate things a little bit. I have too many games. "
Beilein liked Gilbert: "I enjoyed that answer. It also shows the self-esteem.
Gilbert loved the unpretentious meeting at the coach. He loved the story of Beilein's journey from a high school coach to a coach at all academic levels – and now at the NBA.
"In 90 seconds, you feel like you've known him forever," said Gilbert. "You can not find anyone to say anything bad about this guy."
Beilein is 66 years old. He underwent cardiac bypass surgery on August 7, 2018. The coach did not know he had a heart problem. It was discovered during a regular physical examination.
"He's in better shape now than before," Gilbert said. "He is incredibly skinny. His personality is that of a 40 year old man. Age is just a number. My dad always said that. I believe him. He lived up to 91 years old. "
Gilbert and Beilein have a five-year contract.
"According to some information, we had to pay him all that money," said Gilbert. "It's a good contract, but the salary is very reasonable."
Beilein does have a lawyer to "examine the contract," according to Gilbert.
LIFE WITH LEBRON
"With LeBron (James), the life span was limited because of his age and his contractual commitment," said Gilbert. "It's a win now at all costs. . . Everything revolves around the sun, which is him. "
Gilbert paused, then added, "No matter how much pressure it has worked, we have won a title."
Gilbert's position was that the team could not train players during the four seasons of James' second tour with the Cavs (2014-18). The goal was to surround James with veterans to get a title.
Gilbert explained that some of the changes to the training were "due to the culture of victory now with LeBron". But they also represent the best four seasons of franchise history, the 2016 title and four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals.
At the dawn of the 2017-18 season, the Cavs knew that James could leave as a free agent because his contract included an exclusion clause.
"Unless someone has verbally committed at least, it had to be presumed that it could happen," Gilbert said. "We were better prepared this time."
Gilbert pointed out that the trade between Kyrie Irving and Boston had led the Cavs to add young players Collin Sexton, Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson.
KYRIE IRVING TRADE
After the 2017 playoffs, Irving asked for an exchange. The All-Star keeper was still two years old. Gilbert said that the longer they wait a long time to deal with Irving, the lower his value would fall.
"It becomes a slush ball," said the owner. "We had to exchange it when we did it. Which team would like Kyrie to have a one year contract knowing that he could leave after the season? You will not get much in return (in these circumstances). "
But there was something else.
"The agent told us, if we do not exchange it, he is about to be operated on the knee," said Gilbert. "It was possible that he was missing most of the year. This has turned out to be true.
Irving missed the 2018 playoffs because he underwent two knee surgeries. He was relatively healthy this season, but the Celtics had a tough year and were eliminated from the post-season in the second round.
"I do not know, but I think Kyrie will leave Boston," said Gilbert. "We could have ended up with nothing. Looking back after all the steps taken by Koby, we killed him in this trade. "
MOVING FORWARD
Gilbert thinks he has the right combination in the home office of Koby Altman with Beilein as a coach.
"Koby is 36," he said. "We want it for a long time."
Gilbert knows there is no quick fix, as was the case after James left in the summer of 2010. At the time, the reception desk thought that the Akron native could return to four years, what happened.
"We need to create a culture and a team, beyond just adding a lot more talent," said Gilbert. "I really believe in this front office and the coaching staff. We form a team based on culture and character. "
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