久久亚洲国产成人影院-久久亚洲国产的中文-久久亚洲国产高清-久久亚洲国产精品-亚洲图片偷拍自拍-亚洲图色视频

  Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

Paxson out as Cavaliers start rebuilding
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-22 09:38

Their shocking collapse complete, the Cleveland Cavaliers began to rebuild on Thursday — from the top.

Jim Paxson was fired as the club's general manager, dismissed by new owner Dan Gilbert one day after the Cavaliers' chaotic season ended short of the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.

Expected for weeks, Paxson's firing came exactly one month after coach Paul Silas was fired with 18 games left by Gilbert, the online mortgage banker who has had a rough introduction into operating a pro sports franchise.

Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Jim Paxson speaks at a news conference at Gund Arena in Cleveland in this July 30, 2002 photo. Paxson was fired Thursday as general manager of the Cavaliers, whose stunning second-half collapse this season cost them their first trip to the NBA playoffs in seven years. (AP
Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Jim Paxson speaks at a news conference at Gund Arena in Cleveland in this July 30, 2002 photo. Paxson was fired Thursday as general manager of the Cavaliers, whose stunning second-half collapse this season cost them their first trip to the NBA playoffs in seven years. [AP]

On March 1, Gilbert took over a 31-24 team that appeared playoff-bound. But a prolonged losing skid, compounded by Silas' firing and rumors that Paxson was next, LeBron James wasn't happy and free agent center Zydrunas Ilgauskas was apartment hunting in New York, has Gilbert entering his first summer looking for a coach and GM.

"We have a pretty good track record in 21 years of business of picking the right people," he said. "We're looking at the best in business and basketball."

Gilbert didn't divulge any candidates for a successor to Paxson, who took over the Cavaliers in 1999. Gilbert intends to have Cleveland's next GM hire the new coach. He removed Brendan Malone as a coaching candidate. Malone went 8-10 as an interim replacement for Silas and will stay with the organization.

Paxson's tenure as Cleveland's GM will be remembered for poor draft picks (Trajan Langdon, DeSagana Diop), a carousel of head coaching changes, James' arrival and Carlos Boozer's defection as a free agent.

But perhaps most importantly, the Cavs didn't make the playoffs under Paxson. Cleveland went 185-307 in his six seasons.

Although critics are quick to point out his failings, Paxson was responsible for ridding the Cavaliers of some burdensome contracts — leftovers from previous GM Wayne Embry — that prevented the team from improving with offseason moves.

Paxson traded Shawn Kemp and his four-year, $70.8 million contract to Portland in 2000. He also freed the team of other awful contracts that Embry and former principal owner Gordon Gund handed out in the late '90s.

Paxson had finally placed the Cavaliers, who won just 17 games two years ago, in position to spend money on free agents to complement James, but now he won't get the chance to see his plans through.

In a statement, Paxson thanked Gund for the opportunity and wished Gilbert "every success in the future."

Thanks to Paxson, Cleveland's next GM will be more than $20 million under the salary cap.

"For the organization it's a critical time," forward Robert Traylor said. "They have to make sure they get somebody in here who knows the business."

The Cavaliers finished 42-40, a seven-game improvement from last season, but lost a tiebreaker with New Jersey for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

It was a bitter ending for the Cavs, who led the Central Division for several weeks before their season was thrown into upheaval by the change of ownership, Silas' firing and guard Jeff McInnis' benching.

"There were a lot of things that happened business-wise," said forward Drew Gooden, who replaced Boozer and averaged career-highs in scoring (14.4) and rebounds (9.2). "It did bring us a lot of negativity."

Before the Cavaliers went their separate ways following a strange season, there were a few more bizarre moments Thursday:

_ James, who had an MVP-caliber season, was the only player to leave without speaking to the media. The star jumped into his Hummer, pumped up the stereo's volume and signed a few autographs for Gund Arena employees before rolling into a summer vacation he couldn't postpone.

James averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists, smashed several team records and ended his fabulous second season with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists in a win over Toronto.

"The kid can do it all," Traylor said. "But he can't do it all by himself."

_ Wearing a New York Yankees cap, Ilgauskas ended his ninth season with the Cavaliers not knowing if he'll be back for a 10th. The All-Star center said it's "50-50" that he re-signs with Cleveland.

"I would love to stay," said Ilgauskas, who averaged 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and played the final two weeks with a dislocated finger. "I never wanted to go, but reality is I'm a free agent."

_ McInnis blamed stomach cramps, not a "viral syndrome" as the team called it, for him not traveling to the season finale in Toronto. However, McInnis' excuse seemed shaky after the soon-to-be free agent sulked over playing time and his benching by both Silas and Malone.

During Tuesday night's final home game, McInnis didn't join his teammates on the bench for long stretches of the second half. And when he was there, he sat with a towel wrapped around his head.

"I thought I was a true professional during all of this," he said. "I think they wanted me to blow up and do something crazy."

The Cavaliers had plenty of that this season.



Ferrero wins first round in Barcelona
A farewell to Armstrong
Rockets beat Clippers 115-90, win 6th straight
 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

China, France ink Airbus, other deals worth US$4b

 

   
 

Hu-Koizumi meeting hangs in the balance

 

   
 

People urged to shun unauthorized marches

 

   
 

Emerging Asia looking for bigger role

 

   
 

Chrysler compacts to be made in China for US

 

   
 

Tougher policies for real estate development

 

   
  Roddick advances at clay court tennis
   
  Carter leads Nets into Playoffs, Cavs miss out
   
  Rockets beat Sonics for 7th win in a row
   
  Chelsea held as nine-man United lose against Everton
   
  All 28 sports to face vote for 2012 Olympic Games inclusion
   
  Czechs up to second in FIFA world rankings
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Cavaliers' owner addresses LeBron rumors
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 不卡午夜视频 | 好妞操 | 日本精品一在线观看视频 | 国产在线91精品入口首页 | 欧美日韩免费做爰视频 | 欧美性高清视频免费看www | 欧美一级大黄特黄毛片视频 | 特黄日韩免费一区二区三区 | 久久国产片 | 日本久久久久久久 | 免费一级网站 | 91精品国产薄丝高跟在线看 | a级毛片免费在线观看 | 污全彩肉肉无遮挡彩色 | 日产一区两区三区 | 国产微拍精品福利视频 | 91国内精品视频 | 国产一级高清 | 性欧美高清久久久久久久 | 亚洲国产片 | 在线欧美国产 | 中文字幕视频免费在线观看 | 国产成人啪精品视频免费软件 | 国产第一夜 | 精品久久久久久影院免费 | 手机看片1024国产基地 | 综合色久| 日韩二区三区 | 一级做a毛片在线看 | 日本欧美一级二级三级不卡 | 国产成人综合亚洲 | japonensis国产福利 | 国产农村乱子伦精品视频 | 综合欧美一区二区三区 | 久一在线 | 国产伦精品一区二区三区四区 | 俄罗斯毛片免费大全 | 国产一区二区在线视频 | 精品视自拍视频在线观看 | 久草视频免费在线播放 | 亚洲超大尺度激情啪啪人体 |