Orlando Magic Rumors: Tyronn Lue backs David Griffin as rumors grow

The rumor mill is churning now as a source tells a Cleveland newspaper David Griffin may very well leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Orlando Magic.

The Orlando Magic’s search for a new general manager or president of basketball operations continues largely behind the scenes.

This past weekend saw a flurry of reports about the Magic’s intentions leak out and one surprising rumor does not seem to be going away.

It was somewhat surprising when Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders first reported the Magic were interested in pursuing Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin. Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical confirmed it a few weeks later. And then this weekend, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reported the Magic intended to offer Griffin the lead job.

When there is smoke, there is some fire. And it seems the Magic’s interest in Griffin is legitimate.

The question on everyone’s mind is whether Griffin’s interest in the Magic is legitimate. Or whether these were leaks to change bargaining positions as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

That part may not be known until the Magic get the chance to sit down with him after the Cavaliers’ season ends. But the writing does seem to be on the wall as the Playoffs drag on. And there seems to be no change to his contract status.

At Monday’s Game One between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors, Jeff Schudel of The Cleveland News-Herald spoke to a league source who predicted Griffin would leave the Cavaliers to join the Magic:

"“I think David Griffin is going to be the general manager of the Orlando Magic next season,” a league source said May 1 at The Q before the Cavaliers demolished the Toronto Raptors, 116-105, in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference best-of-seven semifinal series. “Even if he doesn’t have the title of president, he’ll be running the show.”"

That is just one person’s opinion. It is unclear how well sourced this person is or whether that is the feeling around the organization. But, there it is in print.

There might be more to this story than meets the eye. And it may seem the Magic’s interest in Griffin is more than a simple pipe dream. It might be a possibility the team could pursue and realistically get.

Just about every Cavaliers player who has been asked about Griffin’s uncertain contract status — his contract expires at the end of the season — has come out in support of Griffin.

Schudel asked Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue before Monday’s game about Griffin’s status. Lue heaped praise on the team’s general manager since the 2014 season:

As Lue says in that video, whenever the Cavaliers had lost something, Griffin found a way to replace it. Even with his team bumped up near the salary cap and having little flexibility to add players.

Sure, having LeBron James helps. But Griffin has worked the trade market well and created valuable trade exceptions too, giving his team opportunities to continue improving.

And, if it helps, James also backed Griffin publicly.

Schudel speculates perhaps the public funding fight to secure financing for Quicken Loans Arena renovations distracted Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. With that settled, he may now turn to settling matters with Griffin. Windhorst reported there have been no meaningful offers to Griffin to resolve his unsettled contract situation.

If this one source is to be believed, then the Magic are a very serious threat to make a big free agent push for the title-winning Griffin to lead their basketball operations.

Cleveland has one big advantage, though. The Cavaliers are not likely to let the Magic talk to Griffin until after their playoff run is over. And the Magic may not be willing to wait that long if his interest is not legitimate.

Next: OMD Podcast: Sorting through the GM search

As they say, this rumor seems to be gaining a lot more steam. And now a lot more legs in reality as the Magic’s search continues.