Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin indicated first-year coach David Blatt's job is safe, even as the team's subpar performance continues. Griffin's assurances came a week after an ESPN report indicated Blatt could be headed to the hot seat.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving have spoken in support of Blatt, and Griffin followed suit on Sunday.
"This narrative of our coaching situation is truly ridiculous," Griffin said, via ESPN. "It's a non-story, it's a non-narrative. Coach Blatt is our coach, he's going to remain our coach. Do not write that as a vote of confidence. He never needed one. It was never a question. So don't write it that way."
Griffin continued, reiterating Blatt's job was never in jeopardy.
"It's such a ridiculous assertion. It seemed giving life to it is what would happen by talking about it so I didn't want to do that," he said. "At the same time it's just time for everybody to get on with it. We have a chance to galvanize ourselves and grow and move in a positive direction so I want to make sure we're doing that in a fresh environment."
Cleveland is 19-15, a record that had some in the media ready to push the panic button. Griffin, though, asserted this season is still a work in progress and there wasn't a need to be alarmed while the team continues to build chemistry together.
"We're like traveling with the Beatles," he said. "I'm not surprised, but I've been disappointed the slant has been an attempt to be so negative all the time. This is exactly what we said it's going to be: It's a work in progress and we're going to continue to get better every day."
The Cavaliers visit Philadelphia on Monday.
