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Milwaukee Bucks: David Griffin might not be a realistic GM candidate

By Ti Windisch

Feb 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin talks with the media before the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin talks with the media before the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Although he might be a great fit for the job, David Griffin is probably not going to be the next GM of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Milwaukee Bucks, reportedly, are greatly expanding their search to find a new general manager. Although Justin Zanik was at one point seen as John Hammond’s successor, Milwaukee is intent on at least pretending to consider all available options.

One of those options, actually one of the first ones linked to the Bucks, is David Griffin. Griffin is currently serving as the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who will start an epic NBA Finals series against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.

The Cavaliers, who elected to block other teams from speaking with Griffin a few weeks ago, has made the same decision again, according to Marc Stein.

Notice the exact words Stein uses here–“during the playoffs.” That’s intentionally specific, because after the playoffs Griffin will be a free agent in his own right, pending a deal with the Cavs being reached very soon.

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Technically, the Bucks could wait Cleveland out and approach Griff with some sort of massive, Godfather offer and try to lure him away from the Cavaliers. Maybe Griffin would appreciate the long-term security Milwaukee could offer, in addition to getting a chance to do more than add veterans around LeBron James.

Those championship rings must feel nice though, and LeBron has come out and endorsed Griff as the Cavs GM before, even though he had a rant earlier this season about needing more help.

But let’s say Griffin wants more money and a change of scenery, and leaves Cleveland for Milwaukee. The absolute earliest the NBA Finals could end is June 7, and that might not be the earliest Griffin could be free of his deal with the Cavaliers.

Even if that was the date, it’s not even two and a half weeks from the 2017 NBA Draft, which is on June 22. If Griffin wanted to bring in a new front office staff, as most GMs do, it would mean there’s even less time before the draft starts.

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And that’s the absolute best case scenario, assuming Griffin can leave as soon as the Finals are over, that they end in a sweep, and that he actually does leave. Imagine if Milwaukee waited out a seven-game series and then heard ‘no.’

A potential Game 7 would be on June 18, just four days before the draft. Since Cleveland is not letting Griffin talk to anybody, it doesn’t seem like there’s time to bring him in before the offseason is already in full swing.

The Milwaukee Bucks could launch a half-court shot at Griffin, but there’s a huge chance that it misses and throws off this whole summer for Milwaukee. The Bucks could also just go about their business and then bring in Griffin to manage the team going forward, but it feels strange to have Zanik make all the moves this summer just to have him not actually take over.

Next: Prospect Watch: Tyler Dorsey

Maybe this is all a ruse on Milwaukee’s part, and Zanik is the guy after all. Or maybe Ed Stefanski will be GM in a week. Who knows with the Milwaukee Bucks these days.

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