It was after midnight on draft night in 2013 and
then-Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant was working hard to finish
a deal.
Within a minute of the Memphis Grizzlies taking Janis Timma
with the 60th and final pick, assistant general manager Trent Redden was on the
phone going after a guy the Cavs were calling their "Mr. 61," as in
61st pick. He was an undersized Australian from St. Mary's who had slipped
through the back end of the draft.
To say Matthew Dellavedova was unwanted isn't true.
Undrafted, yes, but he had several contract offers rolling in that night. One
was from the New York Knicks. A little bidding war unfolded and the Cavs kept
upping their offer. Finally, Grant reached the number agent Bill Duffy was
looking for: $100,000 guaranteed on a two-year contract that was otherwise
non-guaranteed.
This is now looking like one of the greatest moves in team
history after the gritty little Aussie had yet another incredible Finals game,
this one including 20 points and a vital flailing banker in the fourth quarter
that was as improbable as this career path.
Grant is no longer with the team, fired last year after a
disappointing start to the season. Neither is Mike Brown, who was fired as the
coach. But there are plenty of relics they left that are making a mark in this
series the Cavs now lead 2-1 over the Golden State Warriors after a 96-91 Game
3 win.
But none of their decisions is looming larger at the moment
than Mr. Dellavedova. Brown watched Dellavedova extensively when he was at St.
Mary's because Brown's son, Elijah, was considering accepting a scholarship to play
there. There was no missing Delly when watching the Gaels; there were a list of
achievements, but all you really need to know is they retired his jersey less
than a year after he graduated.
Grant knew St. Mary's coach Randy Bennett well, and the coach
raved about Dellavedova. The Cavs found themselves intrigued.
Then summer league started. The stories have grown in the
two years since, but generally all agree Dellavedova was horrible from the
first practice onward and only marginally improved over the two weeks in Las
Vegas. The Cavs will never admit it, but they must have wondered if they'd
flushed $100,000 down the drain for a player who didn't look like he'd be able
to cut it at the next level.
It didn't get much better in the preseason, with it appearing
at times that Dellavedova might be headed for the waiver wire. That included
one dreadful night in Cincinnati against John Wall when Dellavedova had six
turnovers in one quarter.
There were those in the organization that did want
Dellavedova cut despite the moderate investment in him. But Grant believed in
Dellavedova and his potential. He liked his temperament and thought his
constant aggression, at the very least, would push young star Kyrie Irving in
practices.
When they had to make the last cut, Grant made the call and
decided to keep him.
Grant drafted Irving and Tristan Thompson, who were hits,
but also Dion Waiters and Anthony Bennett, who were not. He also made a series
of moves to acquire picks that enabled the Cavs to make trades that landed them
Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert.
Finding the Dellavedova diamond, though, might end up being
a legacy move.
"The fact that Chris believed in Delly to the level
that he did is paying off for the organization in spades," said Cavs
general manager David Griffin, who was the team's assistant GM before ascending
last year. "Everyone benefits from everyone that comes before them."
The only way the Warriors can halt the Cavs' momentum and
climb back into this series is to get comfortable playing a way they're not
accustomed to.
One-man brutal ball is besting vibrant ball in the NBA Finals,
and if the Warriors are to come back and win the series, they need the old
Stephen Curry to return.
Grant ended up being like the starting pitcher who labored
through seven innings with no stuff, dragging the Cavs through four generally
miserable rebuilding years. Griffin has acted as the closer, coming in and
firing fastballs to finish deals as LeBron James' grand slam return changed the
game after Grant had been sent to the showers.
Within weeks in the 2013-14 season, Dellavedova was earning
playing time from Brown, who loved his relentless play even if execution at the
NBA level sometimes proved a challenge. After Brown left, Cavs coach David
Blatt quickly fell for his dedication to the system and his defensive energy
and, like Brown, found himself finding minutes for him even as the Cavs brought
in other point guards to try out.
Now in the Finals, Dellavedova has morphed into the Cavs'
second-most important player to this point, which defies all kinds of
realities. He's been just as likely to make a clutch shot or free throw as he
is to achieve a vital defensive stop or go crashing to the floor.
Dellavedova played so hard in Game 3 that he turned into one
giant cramp after the game and had to go to the Cleveland Clinic to get
treatment for dehydration. The former Mr. 61 is earning the lowest salary of
any player in the Finals -- $816,000 for the season. His teammates drive
Lamborghinis, Ferraris and, in James' case, a $60,000 Kia he gets paid millions
to be seen in. Dellavedova drives a Mazda.
"The guys love Delly because he plays with all his
heart," Blatt said late Tuesday night. "What's not to love about the
guy?"
