The Cleveland Cavaliers fired its general manager Chris Grant on Thursday a day after the team suffered an embarrassing setback to the injury-depleted Los Angeles Lakers.
He will be succeeded by assistant GM David Griffin who will work on an interim basis.
Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has been very frustrated with the losses and the internal problems within the team, and the Cavs' loss to the Lakers who played with just four eligible players pretty much sealed Grant's fate.
Still, the Cavs owner believes the team can turn thing around.
"Clearly we've had some issues putting it all together, playing as a team, chemistry and all that," Gilbert said as reported by Cleveland.com. "I just believe it can be turned around."
"We're focused on the future and the chemistry and the culture and the environment of this team," he said. "If we can turn that around, anything can happen. Anything's possible this season."
Gilbert also voiced his support to coach Mike Brown whom he said can succeed with the group of players he has.
"We're going to see Mike Brown succeed this year," Gilbert said. "I think he will be able to do good things in the next 30 games or so. I think this team is going to be able to do good things. They're going to look at each other, look in the mirror, and they're going to rally. We're going to do everything we can to give them the air cover they need."
On its first game since the firing of Grant, the Cavs responded with a 115-113 victory over the Washington Wizards.
The Cavaliers were expected to fight for a playoff spot this year with the addition of top draft pick Anthony Bennett who has been a bust so far, and the growth of All-Star Kyrie Irving. Instead, the team is five games behind the eighth and final playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference.
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