CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Cavaliers general manager David Griffin left for his successors potential trades to bring either Chicago's Jimmy Butler or Indiana's Paul George to the team, sources told cleveland.com, and one or more deals Griffin constructed could happen without him.

In either case, a third team would be involved and would take All-Star forward Kevin Love in exchange for the mix of picks and role players the Bulls and Pacers seek to rebuild in the event they choose to deal their franchise player.

Both teams would seek a high, first-round draft pick, which the Cavs do not have. Among the options Griffin presented to owner Dan Gilbert and front office personnel still in Cleveland involved Phoenix, which owns the No. 4 pick in Thursday's draft.

George told the Pacers he would leave as a free agent next summer, essentially forcing Indiana to trade him now, and his preferred destination is the Lakers.

To that end, ESPN reported Tuesday that Indiana and Los Angeles were engaged in trade talks. But the Cavs are still engaging the Pacers.

Butler is under contract for two more seasons with a player's option for 2019-20.

Sources believed that Gilbert and Koby Altman, who is essentially serving as the Cavs' acting GM, could end up swinging a major trade that was first cooked up in Griffin's final hours on the job.

On Monday, Gilbert and Griffin met late in the day for the second time in four days. It was at that Monday meeting when it became clear Gilbert and Griffin did not agree on changes to organizational operations sought separately by the two men.

Griffin, whose contract as GM expires June 30, chose to leave, and Gilbert agreed rather than make him a new offer.

Sources said the mutual decision to part ways was more about philosophy than money. An offer was made to Griffin's agent, but Gilbert and Griffin spoke far more about team philosophy.

Griffin was working on potential trades to execute by Thursday (draft day) until that meeting Monday.

Gilbert met Tuesday with Chauncey Billups, the leading candidate to head the Cavs' basketball operations, a source told cleveland.com. An operative such as Altman could serve under Billups as GM.

Griffin spoke privately with LeBron James, who was shocked by Griffin's departure and concerned about how Griffin would be replaced, sources told cleveland.com Monday night.

James is still at his Bath Township home and has been working out there and at the Cavs' facility in Independence.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue, who was hired by Griffin but is close personally with Billups, has left northeast Ohio for the summer (per norm). Lue has declined to comment on Cleveland's front-office shakeup and on the possibility of coaching a team with Butler or George, as well as a team without Love.

In addition to Altman, Griffin front-office hands Tony Leotti, Jon Nichols, Mike Gansey, and Brock Aller all remain.

According to sources, as they came by the offices of Griffin and his top assistant, Trent Redden, whose contract is also up, Griffin told them not to be upset or jeopardize their own jobs out of solidarity toward him.

"Take this job and kick (butt)," Griffin told them, according to sources.