The Cleveland Cavaliers have fired general manager Chris Grant, a league source told ESPN.com on Thursday.
The team is mired in a disappointing 16-33 season and a six-game losing streak that has dimmed playoff expectations that were set down before the season by team owner Dan Gilbert.
The 38-year-old GM just last week shouldered some of the blame for the Cavaliers' poor season and addressed the team's "unacceptable" lack of effort after a 1-4 homestand.
"We're all accountable for it, including myself," he said at the time. "It's frustrating. It's disappointing to our fans. The fans deserve better."
Grant's major moves since last summer have not worked including drafting Anthony Bennett with the No. 1 overall pick, free agent signings Jarrett Jack and Andrew Bynum, and a recent trade for Luol Deng has failed to turn the team's season around.
Grant was a driving force in re-hiring coach Mike Brown last year and the team has not responded to the change. Recently their lack of effort in games has brought Brown under fire as well. Wednesday the Cavs lost to a injury-depleted Los Angeles Lakers team that finished the game with only four healthy players.
The Cavs focused on the draft after losing LeBron James in free agency in 2010 and Grant worked to get six first round draft picks over the past three years. But other than Kyrie Irving, who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2011, those picks have failed to turn the team around as they are on pace to miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season.
Grant, who was named general manager in 2010, had one season left on his contract.
The story was reported earlier Thursday by Yahoo! Sports.
The team is mired in a disappointing 16-33 season and a six-game losing streak that has dimmed playoff expectations that were set down before the season by team owner Dan Gilbert.
The 38-year-old GM just last week shouldered some of the blame for the Cavaliers' poor season and addressed the team's "unacceptable" lack of effort after a 1-4 homestand.
"We're all accountable for it, including myself," he said at the time. "It's frustrating. It's disappointing to our fans. The fans deserve better."
Grant's major moves since last summer have not worked including drafting Anthony Bennett with the No. 1 overall pick, free agent signings Jarrett Jack and Andrew Bynum, and a recent trade for Luol Deng has failed to turn the team's season around.
Grant was a driving force in re-hiring coach Mike Brown last year and the team has not responded to the change. Recently their lack of effort in games has brought Brown under fire as well. Wednesday the Cavs lost to a injury-depleted Los Angeles Lakers team that finished the game with only four healthy players.
The Cavs focused on the draft after losing LeBron James in free agency in 2010 and Grant worked to get six first round draft picks over the past three years. But other than Kyrie Irving, who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2011, those picks have failed to turn the team around as they are on pace to miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season.
Grant, who was named general manager in 2010, had one season left on his contract.
The story was reported earlier Thursday by Yahoo! Sports.
