ducks
07-31-2003, 11:42 AM
Cleveland to hold news conference Thursday
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Associated Press
CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Jim Paxson has received a contract extension and promotion from the club, two NBA sources told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.
The sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Paxson's new deal and new title will be announced Thursday by Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund.
A team spokesman said Gund would be making an unspecified announcement via teleconference at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Paxson did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.
The Cavaliers have lost an average of 55 games during Paxson's four seasons in Cleveland. Last season, the Cavs were the league's youngest team and went 17-65 while playing in front of the NBA's smallest home crowds.
However, all the losing turned into a positive when the Cavaliers won the NBA draft lottery in May and used the No. 1 overall pick to take LeBron James, the Akron high school star tabbed for pro superstardom.
Paxson replaced Wayne Embry as general manager in 1999, and his teams have gone 108-220.
Gund has refused to discuss details of Paxson's current contract, but it is believed he had one year left on his deal.
Paxson, 46, has spent the past three seasons unloading huge player contracts _ leftovers from Embry's tenure _ in an attempt to free up money for free agents and rebuild the Cavs, who haven't been in the playoffs since 1998.
In addition to dumping high-salaried players like Shawn Kemp, Wesley Person, Lamond Murray, Bob Sura and Brevin Knight, Paxson has acquired some young talent, including draft picks Dajuan Wagner and Carlos Boozer.
However, some of Paxson's draft picks haven't fared so well, and his critics point to the selections of guard Trajan Langdon and center DeSagana Diop as among his worst.
And while he has had mixed success in player moves, Paxson hasn't had the same luck with his coaching hires. After Mike Fratello, who was hired by Embry, was fired following the 1998-99 season, Paxson hired Randy Wittman, then an assistant with Minnesota.
Wittman was fired by Paxson following the 2001 season, replaced by John Lucas, who went 29-53 in his first season before being replaced after an 8-34 start last season.
Over the past few weeks, Paxson has been busy trying to strengthen his team for new coach Paul Silas, who was hired in June. Cleveland has added free agent guard Kevin Ollie and forward Ira Newble, traded for guard J.R. Bremer and signed rookies James and Jason Kapono, their second-round pick.
Paxson, who also serves as GM of the WNBA's Cleveland Rockers, joined the Cavaliers in 1998 after a long stint in Portland where he played for the Trail Blazers before joining the club's front office.
Paxson was a two-time All-Star guard during nine seasons with Portland. He finished his playing career with the Boston Celtics in 1990.
Paxson's brother, John, is the Chicago Bulls' general manager. scoop (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/story?id=1587660)
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Associated Press
CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Jim Paxson has received a contract extension and promotion from the club, two NBA sources told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.
The sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Paxson's new deal and new title will be announced Thursday by Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund.
A team spokesman said Gund would be making an unspecified announcement via teleconference at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Paxson did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.
The Cavaliers have lost an average of 55 games during Paxson's four seasons in Cleveland. Last season, the Cavs were the league's youngest team and went 17-65 while playing in front of the NBA's smallest home crowds.
However, all the losing turned into a positive when the Cavaliers won the NBA draft lottery in May and used the No. 1 overall pick to take LeBron James, the Akron high school star tabbed for pro superstardom.
Paxson replaced Wayne Embry as general manager in 1999, and his teams have gone 108-220.
Gund has refused to discuss details of Paxson's current contract, but it is believed he had one year left on his deal.
Paxson, 46, has spent the past three seasons unloading huge player contracts _ leftovers from Embry's tenure _ in an attempt to free up money for free agents and rebuild the Cavs, who haven't been in the playoffs since 1998.
In addition to dumping high-salaried players like Shawn Kemp, Wesley Person, Lamond Murray, Bob Sura and Brevin Knight, Paxson has acquired some young talent, including draft picks Dajuan Wagner and Carlos Boozer.
However, some of Paxson's draft picks haven't fared so well, and his critics point to the selections of guard Trajan Langdon and center DeSagana Diop as among his worst.
And while he has had mixed success in player moves, Paxson hasn't had the same luck with his coaching hires. After Mike Fratello, who was hired by Embry, was fired following the 1998-99 season, Paxson hired Randy Wittman, then an assistant with Minnesota.
Wittman was fired by Paxson following the 2001 season, replaced by John Lucas, who went 29-53 in his first season before being replaced after an 8-34 start last season.
Over the past few weeks, Paxson has been busy trying to strengthen his team for new coach Paul Silas, who was hired in June. Cleveland has added free agent guard Kevin Ollie and forward Ira Newble, traded for guard J.R. Bremer and signed rookies James and Jason Kapono, their second-round pick.
Paxson, who also serves as GM of the WNBA's Cleveland Rockers, joined the Cavaliers in 1998 after a long stint in Portland where he played for the Trail Blazers before joining the club's front office.
Paxson was a two-time All-Star guard during nine seasons with Portland. He finished his playing career with the Boston Celtics in 1990.
Paxson's brother, John, is the Chicago Bulls' general manager. scoop (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/story?id=1587660)