Cavs owner shoots down rumor that Blatt will be fired regardless of finish

Never let it be said that Dan Gilbert didn't have David Blatt's back. In May.

While Gilbert, the Cleveland Cavaliers owner, hasn't always been the most PR savvy, he worked swiftly Friday to come out in support of his team's head coach.

Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher reported Friday that no matter how the Cavs finish the playoffs, Blatt would likely be fired. Made aware of the comments on social media, Gilbert was sure to shoot them down as farcical.

This isn't the first time Blatt's job security has come under question. The early parts of the season saw the Cavaliers struggle and speculation mount that Blatt could be on the hot seat. LeBron James wasn't exactly effusive in his support of Blatt, and with the power James wields within the organization, it was seen as a bad omen for the coach's future.

Those rumblings quieted down once the team started playing well – big surprise – but were reignited some this week, with Blatt nearly making a pair of noticeable mistakes in a pivotal situation. The Cavaliers survived and are on to the Eastern Conference finals, but Blatt remains under the microscope.

The rookie coach's status will be called into question if the team doesn't win the championship, which could make the coming offseason even more interesting than it promises to be already. James can opt out to sign a new deal, Kevin Love can hit unrestricted free agency and only three players have fully guaranteed contracts for next season.

Stability is important in building a successful team, something James surely knows from his Miami Heat days. But LeBron is 30 years old, and the team may not have the requisite patience to give Blatt another season, especially if James isn't fully on board with Blatt's vision.