Cavaliers look at Morway

[West Remy]

Pacers' VP possible GM candidate

The Cavaliers have asked the Indiana Pacers for permission to speak with David Morway, senior vice president of basketball, about the team's vacant general manager position, according to a league source.

The Cavs hope to interview Morway about replacing former GM Jim Paxson, who was fired on April 21. Morway, in his seventh season with the Pacers, was asked on Monday if the Cavs contacted him.

"I just can't confirm or deny any rumors at this point," said Morway, whose Pacers are in the playoffs against the Boston Celtics.

The Cavs, meanwhile, are also in the process of finding a head coach. The Cavs confirmed last week they had discussions with Phil Jackson, who is also being courted by the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks.

A published report on Monday stated the Cavs are out of the Jackson sweepstakes. Tad Carper, Cavaliers vice president of communications, said the organization does not plan to routinely discuss every rumor or possible GM or head coaching candidate.

"We are continuing the process of exploring highly successful candidates for our GM and head coach openings and are very encouraged from the dialogue we have had thus far," Carper said. "We also understand and appreciate how interested fans and the media are in the content and status of the person-by-person discussions involved in this process. However, we feel it is best to not comment further on the status of these discussions until the search process is also further along."

Morway is not a typical GM candidate. He is a former sports agent who represented over 75 athletes, including Junior Seau of the NFL and former NBA player David Benoit. With the Pacers, Morway is responsible for the day-to-day administration and operation of the basketball division, including budget oversight and the salary cap. Morway, 44, works closely with CEO and president Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird, president of basketball operations.

"If they're interested in him, he would be a great candidate," said Walsh, about Morway. "He knows how to do the job. He's been here for a long time, and he knows all the elements of the job."

 

[E-Light]

We NEED a talent evaluator, not a number cruncher.

 

[Karma]

If this is the style of GM we are looking at, then maybe our coaching candidates will be playing a bigger part in the the GM role. Not totally sold on the Morway dude, but at least he comes from a successful professional franchise. He would have picked up more then he knows himself working closely with Walsh and Bird.

 

[Pioneer10]

Donnie Walsh has been an excellent GM through the years. He's kept Indiana a contender without having top 5 player nor (arguably) a top 10 player. Anyone who's been groomed under him has had excellent training

 

[NarlCavs]

I have said before that the Cavs should look at top guys who are from the most well run franchises in the NBA so Morway fits that profile. He is pretty well respected and his name has been brought up for GM openings before. It's true that if he's learned from Donnie Walsh than he should have learned well.

The Cavs might end up hiring a younger rising executive from another team such as Morway. It's very possible they won't be able to bring in a proven vet who already has a job.

The Cavs need a total overhaul of their front office so the new GM shouldn't be the only hire.

 

[West Remy]

Cavaliers get permission to interview Pacers executive

CLEVELAND (AP) - The Cavaliers have received permission to interview Indiana Pacers senior vice president of basketball administration David Morway for their vacant general manager position.

Morway, in his seventh season with the Pacers, is in charge of day-to-day basketball operations with Indiana, including the team's budget and salary cap.

“I think he's got all the elements and is a real good candidate,”Pacers
CEO Donnie Walsh said Wednesday. "He's been here seven years and he's learned all the elements of what it takes to be a general manager. There's no doubt he's interested in it.''

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is looking for a replacement for Jim Paxson, who was fired April 21, a day after the season ended with the Cavaliers missing the playoffs for the seventh straight year.

The 44-year-old Morway was president of Professional Excellence Sports Inc., a sports management firm, from 1988-95.

Cavaliers spokesman Tad Carper declined comment on Morway, saying the team won't discuss general manager candidates. Cleveland did announce that director of player personnel Mark Warkentien is currently serving as its interim general manager.

 

[King]

It looks like we are heavily considering hiring this guy. I never heard of him before but he sounds like a good candidate. He has probably picked up a lot from the Pacers front office. And the Pacers have been a successful team.