Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has offered Chauncey Billups a five-year contract to take over the team's front office, sources have told The Athletic's Jason Lloyd.
Billups is undecided about whether to accept the deal, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst. His reservations are rooted in fears about both LeBron James' potential departure next year, and the prospect of being objectively critical with close personal friend and Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue, according to USA Today's Sam Amick.
Gilbert opted not to renew the contract of general manager David Griffin after negotiations between the two broke down on Monday, and immediately honed in on Billups. Gilbert met with him twice in the past two days. No other candidate interviewed for the job.
The former five-time All-Star would be stepping right into the fire, with a high-stakes offseason that could well determine whether James is still with the Cavs past 2018. Griffin had reportedly been working on mammoth trades for Jimmy Butler and Paul George before he and the team parted ways.
Though he was only the GM in title, Griffin was the team's top basketball decision maker, effectively serving as president of basketball operations. Billups was reportedly being targeted to serve as president, with the possibility of hiring a GM to work under him.
Former Milwaukee Bucks assistant GM Justin Zanik is considered a strong candidate to join the Cavs front office, should Billups accept the job.
