Cavs GM: 'We do intend to keep this group together'

They say winning changes everything. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning the 2016 title - after trailing 3-1 in the Finals - may have changed the entire course of their future.

Losing in the Finals to the Golden State Warriors for a second straight year almost certainly would've necessitated a shakeup of some kind. The most popular notion was that Kevin Love, at the very least, would be gone before next season. The power forward has never quite gelled in Cleveland, the Cavs are loaded at the position, and Love saved some of his worst performances for the Finals.

And yet, in the glow of the first major sports championship the city of Cleveland has seen in 52 years, Cavs general manager David Griffin feels the best course is to run it back again.

"We do intend to keep this group together and see what we're capable of," Griffin said Monday on ESPN Radio, as quoted by ESPN's Marc Stein.

‎"I think our best basketball's in front of us because we finally organically grew to the point that we were ready to achieve something together. And so I expect you're going to see better play from Kyrie Irving, who I think took a huge jump both as an individual talent and a winner throughout these playoffs. (And) I think Kevin's fit with us is much more clearly defined."

That last bit may sound dubious, given that Love's productivity dipped across the board in the playoffs, culminating in his averaging 8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds with a .362/.263/.706 shooting line in the Finals. Even if the Cavs do find a more clearly defined role for him, it's clear he has certain physical limitations (length, foot speed) that make him a liability against the teams they're likely to see in the Finals.

At the same time, the Cavs still have to reach the Finals, and hanging on to Love may well give them the best chance to keep doing that. Once they get there, well, LeBron James just showed what he and a healthy supporting cast can do.

The Cavs will have to address other roster questions, namely the unrestricted free agency of point guard Matthew Dellavedova and shooting guard J.R. Smith. Owner Dan Gilbert footed a historic luxury-tax bill this season, and he was rewarded with a championship. After seeing what money can buy, Gilbert should again give Griffin license to do whatever needs to be done.

"We've been really fortunate," Griffin said. "Ownership has really invested in this group to such a huge degree, and when we were the largest taxpayer in the league last year - and I think the second-highest ever - there were times during the year where I felt really, really bad about spending that much of their money. But I do think that you saw that the core of our team, it fits together. It's capable of doing some very special things, and I do think we would like to keep it together."