CLEVELAND — The flailing Cleveland Cavaliers have fired general manager Chris Grant.
With the Cavs sliding further toward the bottom in another disappointing season, owner Dan Gilbert decided to make the move a day after Cleveland was beaten Wednesday night by an injury-ravaged Los Angeles Lakers team that finished the game with just five players.
Grant will be remembered for not being able to rebuild the Cavs fast enough despite having a slew of first-round draft picks, including two No. 1 overall selections.
Vice president of basketball operations David Griffin is the acting general manager.
Gilbert promised the Cavs would not return to the NBA lottery and would make the playoffs after a three-year absence, but Cleveland is 16-33 and has dropped six games in a row — matching its longest losing streak of the season. The Cavs are 5 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference, and their only win in the last nine games came over Milwaukee, which has the league’s worst record.