HoopsHype.com Rumors

Sources say Cavs majority owner Dan Gilbert had dinner with Mike Brown on Sunday. News-Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Dan Gilbert, Mike Brown 

When Mike Brown was fired from the Cavaliers in 2010, owner Dan Gilbert was widely considered the driving force behind the move. The franchise was desperate to keep LeBron James in Cleveland and Brown’s removal was viewed as a necessary step in the process. Now three years later, league sources have said Gilbert isn’t opposed to bringing back the former coach. General Manager Chris Grant will direct this search, but Gilbert obviously has final say and could veto any choice. If Grant ultimately settles on Brown, a friend of his since college, Gilbert isn’t expected to stand in the way. Akron Beacon Journal

Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Chris Grant, Dan Gilbert, Mike Brown 

Ken Berger: Stern: Owners approved Dan GIlbert's purchase of additional shares in the Cavaliers, and Jeanie Buss as managing governor of the Lakers. Twitter @KBergCBS

Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Dan Gilbert, Owners, Jeanie Buss 

Brian Windhorst: Cavs owner Dan Gilbert bought the shares of former partner David Katzman, according to sources. Katzman was 2nd-largest shareholder. Twitter @WindhorstESPN

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, Owners, David Katzman 

Owner Dan Gilbert has been unhappy with the Cavs’ lack of defensive improvement over the past three years, one team source said, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation, and Gilbert was the driving force behind the firing. The Cavs were never supposed to win this season, but Gilbert told the Beacon Journal during training camp that this was an important year to see progress. “I don’t even know what the definition of that is,” Gilbert said in October. “But you’ll know it when you see it.” Akron Beacon Journal

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, Training Camp 

During warmups, fluid began dripping from the overhead scoreboard and onto the court. Arena personnel were forced to send the teams back to their locker rooms, lower the scoreboard and correct the problem. According to the Cavaliers, excess condensation from carbon-dioxide canisters caused the leak. “Scoreboard is leaking fluid on to floor,” Gilbert tweeted during the snafu. “We need to lower scoreboard to fix. Never seen this one before. Going to be several minutes to fix.” Miami Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert 

Micky Arison: Wow what a game. I have to congratulate this feisty young Cavs team & @Dan Gilbert on an amazing effort despite being under manned Twitter @MickyArison

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Dan Gilbert, Micky Arison 

Dan Gilbert: Cleveland Cavaliers young talent makes our future very bright. Clearly, LeBron's is as well. Time for everyone to focus on the road ahead. Twitter @cavsdan

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dan Gilbert 

Since then, there was an ugly homecoming amid heightened security and relentless booing in December 2010, revenge of sorts in the form of a Cavaliers upset victory over the Heat in March 2011, and then last season's lone visit, when James spoke of one day possibly again playing for the Cavaliers, before the Heat went on to rout the Cavaliers. For now, though, there is little in the way of nostalgia. Asked what he expected this time in, James said, "I mean, I think seeing the people that I grew relationships with over the years. But it's a lot different now. I mean, there's only one guy that's actually active that I played with, that's Daniel Gibson, and he's out for the season. "But it's a different coaching staff. It's a different uniform and everything. So it's a totally different feel." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dan Gilbert, Daniel Gibson 

Silas, a three-time NBA champion and two-time All-Star, was James' first coach with the Cavaliers. He was brought in because then Cleveland general manager Jim Paxson wanted a veteran coach with an impressive resume to help nurture James, who entered the NBA as the No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft after having led nearby St. Vincent-St. Mary High to three state titles. "I thought he would be as good as he is, no question about it," said Silas, 69, who does consulting work for Charlotte after concluding his coaching career last season with the Bobcats. "You could see the talent and the athleticism he had. I thought he would be the type of player he is now, winning MVPs and being one of the best ever." FOXSports Florida

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Paul Silas, Dan Gilbert 

NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said the league would consider returning to Cleveland for the All-Star Game, last held in Northeast Ohio in 1997, when the NBA's 50 greatest players were honored. "I was in Cleveland last Friday, had extensive discussions with [owner] Dan [Gilbert] and members of his organization and we've encouraged them to bid for a subsequent All-Star Game," Silver said. "We had a great experience when we were there back in '97, and one of the great moments, I think ... was the presentation of the 50 greatest on the floor." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, All-Star, Adam Silver 

"It's always interesting when the trading deadline approaches because you never know what all of the potential opportunities are available to us until literally, the very last minutes prior to the deadline," said Gilbert, who does get advance notice of what's going on. "CG has done a great job of not only evaluating the numerous offers that are thrown around during this time but also being very creative in his approach." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Trade, Chris Grant, Dan Gilbert 

James has been thinking about a return to Cleveland for most of his time with the Heat, including the night of his cable TV special. He had second-guessed himself that night, but once Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert released that vitriolic letter, James understood: There was no turning back. Yahoo! Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Free Agency, LeBron James, Dan Gilbert, Agents, Rich Paul 

Rock Gaming Chairman Dan Gilbert announced Wednesday that he has acquired a majority interest of the Greektown Casino-Hotel in downtown Detroit. Gilbert, founder of Quicken Loans and the Cleveland Cavaliers owner who triggered the building of the Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland, moved his Quicken Loans headquarters to downtown Detroit. His family of companies are expected to help lead a revitalization of the city's urban core. "Our plans are in the early phases," Gilbert said in a news release. "However, we envision significant investment in the Greektown Casino-Hotel, as well as the enhancement and growth of the existing entertainment district. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert 

Businessman, philanthropist and professional sports team owner George Gund III died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. Gund, 75, had been undergoing cancer treatments the past 18 months. He died in Palm Springs, Calif. George, along with his brother Gordon, bought the Cavaliers basketball franchise from Ted Stepien in 1983 for $20 million. They sold the team in 2005 to Quicken Loans founder and billionaire Dan Gilbert in 2005. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, George Gund III 

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert didn't mince words when asked his reaction to Wednesday's news that center Anderson Varejao will have surgery on his right knee and miss the next six to eight weeks. "It's a killer for us," Gilbert said during an interview Wednesday with Fox Sports Ohio's Fred McLeod and Austin Carr in the second quarter of the Cavaliers' win over the Atlanta Hawks at The Q. "It is really, really disappointing -- for him, especially, first as a player and as a person. "He's such a great guy. Every time I see him, everywhere I see him, he just can't wait to get back in, wants to get back in, wants to play. He lives life the way he plays. He has that kind of personality. ... I don't know how you couldn't love this guy for everything he is and everything he stands for. It's a shame." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, Injuries, Anderson Varejao 

Dan Gilbert: Very disappointing news about @varejaoanderson. Nobody wanted him back on the court more than Andy himself. We keep marching ahead.... Twitter @cavsdan

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, Injuries, Anderson Varejao 

Dan Gilbert: Amazing how jaded some people have become.D's accuse me of being R & R's accuse me of being D on an indpend. factual statement #ignorenoise Twitter @cavsdan

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert 

Gilbert accepts being dogged by his own words without regret, even if they highlight only the petulance of a man possessing as many layers as his vast business empire. He's a gut man, feels something, goes with it, says it. His personal highway is always wide open, speed limit be damned. There is no use in pausing to deconstruct words. Words are static. So, too, is the sports gloom in northeast Ohio, which watched its native son -- James, who memorably turned his back on home in a self-aggrandizing spectacle -- win a championship. Cleveland hasn't enjoyed a title in 48 years, not since the city's NBA owner was two years old. Lamenting the past is like watching concrete dry to Gilbert. What's done is done. SI.com

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dan Gilbert 

"Detroit is a town that's been beaten up, down in the dumps, but has this certain spirit about it," Gilbert says. "Cleveland does, too. It never gives up. 'We're going to keep coming at it.' I want to be part of that. I want to be in position to affect the outcome." There is money to be made, of course. Cynics don't cast his pursuit in the same noble terms as Gilbert. He puts his business beliefs -- You'll see it when you believe it! -- in a colorful book given to all employees. Those "isms," as he calls them, don't fit stereotypical corporate culture, especially in the stodgy world of traditional sports ownership. Good ideas can come from anywhere, the intern making copies, the bum in the alley. All phone calls and e-mails must be returned, no excuses. SI.com

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dan Gilbert