Cavs' Front Office Shakeup

The Cleveland Cavaliers fired head coach Mike Fratello on Tuesday, and general manager Wayne Embry stepped aside to be replaced by Jim Paxson, the team's vice president of basketball operations.

Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund said he told Fratello of his decision earlier Tuesday, nearly a month after the team ended an injury-plagued 22-28 season.

"Sometimes from a coaching standpoint, teams need to go in a new direction, to be re-energized by new leadership on the floor," Gund said. "We believe that is true with respect to the Cavs."

During Fratello's tenure the Cavs compiled a 248-212 record, although the team disappointed fans with a defensive style some considered boring.

Fratello, who had one year left on his contract, was "very surprised" by the decision, Gund said. Fratello did not attend the news conference but issued a statement in which he said he regretted not being able to reach the goals he had set for the team when he took over six years ago.

"With injuries, we were in a constant state of change," he said.

Under Fratello, the Cavs made the playoffs four of his six years but failed to advance past the first round. Attendance at Gund Arena declined in this past strike-shortened season as the Cavs were wracked with injuries to starters Zydrunas Ilgauskas (broken left foot), forward Shawn Kemp (sprained left foot), and Brevin Knight (broken left hand).

Paxson said the Cavs would try to replace Fratello before the NBA draft June 30.

Fratello coached for seven years in Atlanta then worked as a commentator for NBC for three seasons, earning the nickname "Czar of the Telestrator" from partner Marv Albert.

In the other move, Embry will continue as president and chief operating officer for the next year, but will leave the general manager's post, handling day-to-day basketball operations, effective July 1.

Embry has been grooming Paxson for the past year to take his place.

"He's ready," Embry said.

Embry played in the NBA for 11 years and was the first black general manager in the league's history when he was named to the post in 1972 by the Milwaukee Bucks. He held the position for six years.

Prior to joining the Cavs as general manager in 1986, Embry also served in the front office of the Indiana Pacers for one year.

Paxson, who joined the Portland front office after playing with the Trail Blazers for nine seasons, had joined the Cavs to coordinate scouting and player acquisition and development.

Paxson played at the University of Dayton and was a first-round selection by Portland in the 1979 draft. He was a two-time NBA All-Star with Portland and played his final NBA season in 1988-89 with Boston.

He served as Portland's offensive skills coach in 1993-94 and later became assistant to the president and most recently served as assistant general manager.

His father, Jim, was an NBplayer from 1956-58 with Minneapolis and Cincinnati and his brother, John, played for San Antonio from 1983-85 and for Chicago from 1985-89.

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