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Backed by casino cash, would Dan Gilbert be motivated to broaden his Cleveland sports interests? NBA Insider
By Brian Windhorst
November 07, 2009, 8:06PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Last Tuesday night was a potentially huge win for the Cavaliers' franchise. And not just because they had a nice comeback victory against the Wizards.

A couple hours after the game, there was a massive party underway on The Q's fourth-floor practice court. The team's owners, especially majority owner Dan Gilbert, and top officials were celebrating and hugging amidst tables with high-end food and top-shelf alcohol. There was even a disc jockey. If not for the dozens of Issue 3 banners, you could have mistaken it for a five-star wedding reception.

Voters have cleared the way for Gilbert to build two casinos within the next three years, including one across the street from the arena he controls. The effect it will have on downtown is debatable, but there's no doubt the impact it will have on the Cavs.

Gilbert's victory -- which amounted to pulling the sword from the stone after casino issues had failed four times before -- can be attributed in part to how well he's managed the Cavs since he bought them in 2005. It may have only been the beginning.

Lost in all the discussion over where LeBron James would be playing next year was Gilbert's future as owner. If you took an informal poll in Northeast Ohio, there's a good chance Gilbert would rank second behind James in fan's approval ratings of Cleveland sports figures. He's committed to running a first-class operation, even if it is operating significantly in the red.

With the promise of the new casinos, which could perhaps vastly increase Gilbert's wealth over the long haul, it can be expected that he will continue to invest massively in his most high-profile asset. It does make sense to spend to keep James happy and in Ohio, but it doesn't make much fiscal sense to have $90 million payrolls in Cleveland. Yet Gilbert has never blinked in writing checks, and his war chest is about to grow.

Considering the value of keeping 20,000 fans coming downtown and around the forthcoming casino to watch the Cavs 41 times a year, don't expect to see Gilbert change his aggressive style, no matter what happens with James.

In fact, with that in mind, if the Indians or the Browns should ever become available there's a good chance Gilbert would make a bid to purchase one or the other. Before he bought the Cavs, Gilbert tried to buy the Milwaukee Brewers. Besides just wanting to win, having successful sports teams that draw people to downtown just became very important to the budding casino magnate.

Should there be celebration that Gilbert, who is already one of the richest men in America, is likely going to get richer? There are a lot of opinions on that one to be sure, but there is no questioning his willingness to spread that wealth around. The Cavaliers will likely only continue to reap those rewards.

BY THE NUMBERS
9 — Games away Zydrunas Ilgauskas is from tying Danny Ferry’s franchise record of 723 games played.
98 — Career 40-point games for Kobe Bryant, third all-time behind Wilt Chamberlain (271) and Michael Jordan (173).
129 — Current players who will be free agents in 2010, creating one of the deepest and most star-laden summers in NBA history.

AROUND THE ASSOCIATION


Shooting star:
Over the summer, the Cavs recruited Channing Frye and hosted him on a visit to Cleveland, liking his ability to shoot from the outside as a big man. Ultimately they finished second to the Phoenix Suns, who were prepared to offer Frye a significant role near where he starred in college at the University of Arizona.

After being buried on the bench in Portland the last two seasons, the Cavs felt Frye was undervalued and he's showing it with the Suns during their hot start. After Friday's win in Boston, Frye was averaging 14.6 points a game and shooting 51 percent from the floor.

Don't get in his way:
After a blowout loss in Indiana Friday, which was the Washington Wizards' third straight, veteran forward Antawn Jamison went on a locker-room rampage. Calling it the "Wrath of Tawn," The Washington Post reported that Jamison went on a tirade about his team's lethargic effort, and to emphasize the point smashed a fruit tray against a wall in the visitor's locker room.

Perhaps Jamison, currently out with a shoulder injury, should have taken this approach years ago. The Wizards have never been able to get the most out of their impressive talent. A clutch player and a class act, Jamison stewed in the playoffs two years ago when teammates continued to run their mouths against the Cavs to the point of distraction. Often the Wizards' famous childish antics have seemed to upset Jamison. The days of bearing them silently seem to be at an end.

Getting a good break:
As part of a new deal with Spalding, the NBA is using a new style of rims this season. Called the "Arena Pro 180," it has a thicker rim that collapses from all sides when dunked on. For years, the classic breakaway rims only flexed in the front.

Over the first two weeks of the season, scoring has shot up, leading some to speculate that the more flexible rims are permitting more shooters rolls. There's not enough data to support that yet. Some of the scoring numbers can be attributed to a couple of terrible defensive teams that are driving the whole league up.

http://www.realcavsfans.com/newthrea...=newthread&f=7

I'd like Lerner to buy the Indians and work with Shapiro.
Dolan to leave the city completely.
For Gilbert to buy the Browns.

[DC42315]

The Columbus Blue Jackets are not in a hot financial situation right now, and I believe I've read Gilbert wants to own an NHL team somewhere. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him buy the team if John McConnell wants to sell and either keep them there or move them up to Cleveland.

Not sure if anyone is a hockey fan in here or not, but this is something I've been following.

[Gunther]

Jesus, please let Dolan sell to Gilbert. Oh please, oh please, oh please let him sell to Gilbert, Jesus. I'll never ask anything from you again.

-Your buddy, Gunther.

[Ruggeder]

Buy the Indians and start an MLS team in Cleveland, your rich come on!

[BlueSeats626]

Originally Posted by Gunther

Jesus, please let Dolan sell to Gilbert. Oh please, oh please, oh please let him sell to Gilbert, Jesus. I'll never ask anything from you again.

-Your buddy, Gunther.

Only if he promises to refrain from turning the Indians game experience into the stupid circus that the Cavs game experience is becoming.


Wonder if the scoreboard would have "The Diff" on it....

[Marcus]

Figures, the guy with the deepest pockets owns the team with the least financial flexibility... if he owned the Indians, they would be the Cleveland Yankees.

[LJ4MVP]

I knew he was building a casino in cleveland - the article says across from the Q - do we have an exact location? I didn't know he was building 2 of the 4 casinos, which town is he building the other one in?

And that part about Jamison is his own fault - he could have left after that embarrassment, but decided to stay.

[cmstophe]

Originally Posted by Marcus

Figures, the guy with the deepest pockets owns the team with the least financial flexibility... if he owned the Indians, they would be the Cleveland Yankees.

Not so fast, I don't think that's true. Gilbert owning the Indians would probably not allow us to suddenly spend $150 million a year.

[MikeOC33]

I think he has the one in Cincy too. The other group has the Toledo and the Columbus ones (Penn group?)

[Gunther]

Originally Posted by cmstophe

Not so fast, I don't think that's true. Gilbert owning the Indians would probably not allow us to suddenly spend $150 million a year.

Why do you say that, cmstophe? I don't understand.

[cmstophe]

Originally Posted by Gunther

Why do you say that, cmstophe? I don't understand.

We're still Cleveland, right? I'm not an economist or financial advisor or anything, but from what I understood, Gilbert would not be putting up Yankees-type payrolls if he owned the Indians. Doesn't he struggle to put up the $90 mil for the Cavs?

[Gunther]

Originally Posted by cmstophe

We're still Cleveland, right? I'm not an economist or financial advisor or anything, but from what I understood, Gilbert would not be putting up Yankees-type payrolls if he owned the Indians. Doesn't he struggle to put up the $90 mil for the Cavs?

Well, I'm not going to act like I know anything about Gilbert's finances, but he is a billionaire, isn't he?

My thinking is this: Gilbert likes to win. I feel he has done everything he could do with the Cavs' organization to do this. No championship yet, but they're working on it. I also feel that he is doing everything he can to keep LeBron, as this will obviously affect his bottom line with the Cavs.

Considering his business has survived the downturn in the housing market, isn't it correct to assume that he will be in a good position to reap rewards once the housing market picks up (whenever that is)?

I get the impression that Gilbert is not hurting for money, or sources to bring money in (like the Chinese investment in the Cavs recently). Maybe I'm wrong about this. Anyone have better info?

[Pioneer10]

Losing out on Frye hurts. He would have been a perfect PF type to put next to Shaq. Lot of our gripes about the combos being run over the last few games would have been mute.

The Jamison situation is interesting. Was really hoping we'd pull a trade for him last year: he's another guy who would fit seamlessly in between Shaq and Lebron. Doesn't need the ball to score and he can score inside/out while providing some rebounding as well

[B Mac]

There's a practice court on the 4th floor of the Q? I didnt even know there was a 4th floor in that place. Interesting.

[Taiter]

Buying a baseball team in a smaller market is a waste of money until MLB gets a cap (which it sorely needs). The Tribe wouldn't spend anywhere near the Bankees even if Gilbert owned them.