General Manager Danny Ferry

[NarlCavs]

Re: Ferry Close to Finalizing GM Deal

Sometimes casual Cleveland sports fans can be idiots. I don't mean avid fans who follow teams closely and come to sites like this. You have to seperate Ferry the player that Embry and Gund traded Harper for from Ferry the possible GM who seems to have all the qualities and traits to be a very good GM.

It doesn't make sense to not want Ferry because he didn't turn out as a player like some projected him. Ferry was always a class act and a hard worker. This is a smart guy who appears to have all the makings of a quality GM.

 

[CBBI]

Ferry's decision expected today

Posted on Thu, Jun. 23, 2005

Ferry's decision expected today

Executive with Spurs reported to be leaning toward Cavs' GM job

By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sports writer


At long last and with just a week to spare before the free-agency period begins, the Cavaliers might make a front-office hire.

San Antonio Spurs director of basketball operations Danny Ferry is expected to give Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert an answer today on whether he'll become the team's next general manager. Two people close to Ferry said Thursday that he still wasn't 100 percent sure he would take the job, but was leaning that way.

It is believed Gilbert had hoped to get an answer from Ferry last Monday after meeting with him in Detroit last week, but Ferry said he wouldn't make up his mind until after the NBA Finals.

So what of Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown and his potential future as the Cavaliers' president of basketball operations?

Brown said Wednesday that he's pushed back his visit to the Mayo Clinic to check out his bladder condition until after the NBA Draft next week. He has maintained all along that he wouldn't decide his future until after meeting with his specialists.

If he sticks to that oft-repeated timetable, it might back his decision up until past the date when free agents can start locking up deals, which is next Friday. Last summer, top free agent and eventual Most Valuable Player Steve Nash decided he'd leave the Dallas Mavericks to sign with the Phoenix Suns on the first day of negotiations.

The Cavaliers have been courting Brown since before the end of the regular season and weeks ago thought they'd locked him up. Now there's rampant speculation that the deal might not go through for a number of reasons.

According to a league executive, in their talks with Ferry last week, the Cavaliers outlined scenarios in which Brown didn't come on board.

All muddied waters on the topic, though, should finally become clear in the coming days.

If Ferry does accept the position, it might increase the chance the team will re-sign center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas and Ferry have been close friends since they were Cavalier teammates. It is also believed coach Mike Brown and LeBron James have told ownership they'd like to see Ilgauskas re-signed.

The Cavaliers were potentially dealt a setback in the free-agent market Thursday, when the Phoenix Suns sent guard Quentin Richardson to the New York Knicks for forward Kurt Thomas.

The move clears the deck for the Suns to match any offers for Joe Johnson, whom the Cavaliers were targeting as a free agent.

In addition, the team had previously been in talks with the Knicks about trading Drew Gooden for Thomas.

According to league insiders, the Cavaliers also have been actively trying to trade swingman Jiri Welsch before next Tuesday's draft, either to acquire a pick or a free up salary-cap space.

Akron Beacon Journal

 

[West Remy]

Beacon Journal | 06/23/2005

Posted on Thu, Jun. 23, 2005

Ferry's decision expected today

Executive with Spurs reported to be leaning toward Cavs' GM job

By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sports writer

At long last and with just a week to spare before the free-agency period begins, the Cavaliers might make a front-office hire.

San Antonio Spurs director of basketball operations Danny Ferry is expected to give Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert an answer today on whether he'll become the team's next general manager. Two people close to Ferry said Thursday that he still wasn't 100 percent sure he would take the job, but was leaning that way.

It is believed Gilbert had hoped to get an answer from Ferry last Monday after meeting with him in Detroit last week, but Ferry said he wouldn't make up his mind until after the NBA Finals.

So what of Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown and his potential future as the Cavaliers' president of basketball operations?

Brown said Wednesday that he's pushed back his visit to the Mayo Clinic to check out his bladder condition until after the NBA Draft next week. He has maintained all along that he wouldn't decide his future until after meeting with his specialists.

If he sticks to that oft-repeated timetable, it might back his decision up until past the date when free agents can start locking up deals, which is next Friday. Last summer, top free agent and eventual Most Valuable Player Steve Nash decided he'd leave the Dallas Mavericks to sign with the Phoenix Suns on the first day of negotiations.

The Cavaliers have been courting Brown since before the end of the regular season and weeks ago thought they'd locked him up. Now there's rampant speculation that the deal might not go through for a number of reasons.

According to a league executive, in their talks with Ferry last week, the Cavaliers outlined scenarios in which Brown didn't come on board.

All muddied waters on the topic, though, should finally become clear in the coming days.

If Ferry does accept the position, it might increase the chance the team will re-sign center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas and Ferry have been close friends since they were Cavalier teammates. It is also believed coach Mike Brown and LeBron James have told ownership they'd like to see Ilgauskas re-signed.

The Cavaliers were potentially dealt a setback in the free-agent market Thursday, when the Phoenix Suns sent guard Quentin Richardson to the New York Knicks for forward Kurt Thomas.

The move clears the deck for the Suns to match any offers for Joe Johnson, whom the Cavaliers were targeting as a free agent.

In addition, the team had previously been in talks with the Knicks about trading Drew Gooden for Thomas.

According to league insiders, the Cavaliers also have been actively trying to trade swingman Jiri Welsch before next Tuesday's draft, either to acquire a pick or a free up salary-cap space.

The big decision is upon us. Let’s hope for the best. There are a few random things I would like to comment on about the article. If there was any truth to trading Gooden for Thomas, I am shocked because for all of Gooden’s rock-for-brains moments, he still plays hard and is very talented. I’m not ready to give up on Drew right this second. Secondly, it appears Jiri is the Cavalier more likely out the door than Sasha if this report is accurate. Sasha would be better trade bait but he’s also the better player of the two and keeping him would be nice.

 

[Karma]

Re: Ferry's decision expected today

Well lets hope Ferry feels like returning to Cleveland. It seems that his stability and professionalism brought from San Antonio will be invaluable. Brown's pushing back dates really hurts this franchise if we play the waiting game.

If Ferry does accept the position, it might increase the chance the team will re-sign center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas and Ferry have been close friends since they were Cavalier teammates. It is also believed coach Mike Brown and LeBron James have told ownership they'd like to see Ilgauskas re-signed.

Music to my ears. I like this Danny Ferry character. Same goes for Coach Brown and LeBron.

According to league insiders, the Cavaliers also have been actively trying to trade swingman Jiri Welsch before next Tuesday's draft, either to acquire a pick or a free up salary-cap space.

Lets get this front office in place to get these moves rolling.

Thanks for the story CBBI.

 

[CBBI]

Re: Ferry's decision expected today

Danny Ferry and Mike Brown without question fit into the Dan Gilbert mold in what he seemed to be looking for in terms of people to lead this organization.

Gilbert is a young, upstart owner and he appears to have hired two young upstart to mold and coach his franchise. Both Ferry and Brown were considered to be the best up and comers at their respective jobs. Mike Brown was probably the best assistant coach in the league, better then Dwane Casey and Marc Iavaroni who are both about to get head coaching jobs as well and Ferry was pretty much unanimously considered to be one of the top young executives in the league along with guys like Dave Morway.

It's a gamble to hire two guys with no experience at their positions, but both of these guys are highly thought of around the league and widely respected.

 

[Karma]

Re: Ferry's decision expected today

A hiring of Danny Ferry mixed with the experience of our interim GM Mark Warkenstein, would to me be a good result. Ferry may be a little green with certain aspects which Mark can assist with.

You are right CBBI. Gilbert is loading this franchise up with fresh faces. Cleveland has had a losing mentality, but we have brought in winners who are fresh and excited to change things up here.

 

[Glen Infante]

Threads Merged.

I wonder if the outcome of the Finals will have any say so on Ferry's decision.

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

I hate reading in article's that Z has LeBron's backing with management - is that referring to the time back in January when we were winning, or is that recent sentiment?

To also play devil's advocate, how seasoned is Ferry? He really didn't do much in San Antonio - the team was already in place - the coach was already in control - there only needed a few role players which anyone could've chosen, and Pop may have been a big factor in choosing them. Just wondering how he may fare with a situation where there's a bunch of money to play with, a new management team, a new coaching staff, and a young Superstar???

What else pisses me off is Brown buying himself more time. Make his choice easy Gilby and drop out of the sweepstakes - let NY have him and move to the next candidate.

Man I wish the Finals did not go 7 games - could've had this wrapped up by now. It's amazing how soon the draft and Free Agency is after the end of the season...I wonder what the ramifications are of moving the dates back to August 1 or something...

 

[CBBI]

To also play devil's advocate, how seasoned is Ferry? He really didn't do much in San Antonio - the team was already in place - the coach was already in control - there only needed a few role players which anyone could've chosen, and Pop may have been a big factor in choosing them. Just wondering how he may fare with a situation where there's a bunch of money to play with, a new management team, a new coaching staff, and a young Superstar???

Ferry grew up around the game (his dad was GM of the Washington Bullets), he's an intelligent person, he played in Cleveland and knows the area/fanbase, he's worked with Mike Brown in San Antonio, and he's cut his teeth with one of the top franchises in the NBA under one of the best GM's in the league.

Ferry has been involved in all aspects of running the basketball operations of the Spurs meaning scouting; international and domestic, pro scouting, contracts, the draft, etc.

If you look at who were the frontrunners for jobs in Cleveland outside of Larry Brown, David Morway and Danny Ferry were the hot names in the league being mentioned as guys who will be running teams soon. Mike Brown was the top assistant coach candidate even above Dwane Casey and Marc Iavaroni and it looks like both those guys will get coaching jobs.

What you knock is their collective lack of experience. They are both rookies. I figured that Gilbert would have to go with a rookie at one of the positions but I never figured both.

 

[Glen Infante]

Former Cavalier could rejoin team as general manager or vice president of basketball operations if issues are resolved

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sports writer

The Cavaliers are working on the weekend.

An insider close to the talks said the Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs director of basketball operations Danny Ferry started serious negotiations Friday.

If things get settled, Ferry could be named the team's new general manager or perhaps vice president of basketball operations by Monday.

There are a lot of issues to be resolved before Ferry signs on to take the job. Salary is only one of them.

At issue, said one league insider, is how the infrastructure of the new front office will work, especially on personnel decisions.

The Seattle SuperSonics signed general manager Rick Sund to a three-year, $3.3 million contract earlier this week, which might have set the market for Ferry.

At the top end of the market is Boston Celtics vice president Danny Ainge, who signed a three-year contract for $10 million last month.

Ferry and Ainge have the same agent.

The Cavaliers have been long expected to hire Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown as president of basketball operations. But it is believed that they are discussing several scenarios with Ferry, including ones that don't involve Brown.

Ferry, who has been the No. 3 decision-maker with the Spurs for the past two years, played 10 years with the Cavaliers and holds the franchise record for games played.

Ferry is expected to attend the parade today in San Antonio, which will celebrate the Spurs claiming the NBA championship Thursday night over the Detroit Pistons.

His father, Bob, was a longtime executive with the Washington Bullets.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/basketball/nba/cleveland_cavaliers/11984303.htm

Looks like we will find out Monday. It better happen, Free Agency is a week away.

 

[West Remy]

Ferry more likely than Brown

Former Cavalier in contract talks; Pistons coach wants to return to Detroit

Under ideal conditions, the Cavaliers would announce Danny Ferry as their general manager at a press conference on Monday.

But this whole process of assembling their front office has dragged on much longer than anyone has expected. Why not prolong it another week?

Just because the draft is Tuesday and free agency starts on July 1 doesn't seem to matter any more.

A league source said Ferry continued to talk to the Cavaliers on Saturday.

Apparently, they are hammering out details of his contract, possibly for $3 million over three years.

The news on Pistons coach Larry Brown isn't nearly as encouraging. Brown, whose Pistons lost Game 7 of the NBA Finals last Thursday in San Antonio, is no longer a lock to be the Cavaliers president of basketball operations.

"I am planning on coming back (to the Pistons)," he told the Detroit News on Saturday. "I just don't know about the time frame. I cannot rush with this. If Joe (Dumars) needs a definite answer in two or three days, I don't know if I can do that."

Brown, 64, will enter the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., at 7 a.m. Wednesday for three days of diagnostic testing on his bladder.

Brown hopes to travel to his home in the Hamptons on Friday. Doctors are expected to tell him one of two things - his problem can be corrected with surgery, or there is some neurological concern that would require further evaluation and treatment.

If surgery is the option the doctors want to take, Brown expects to be able to tell Dumars he can return to coach next season.

However, if there are more complicated problems, then he would tell Dumars he needs more time. Dumars, the Pistons' president, would face a very difficult - and delicate - decision.

If he waits on Brown, he runs the risk of losing out on two of the top coaching candidates available (former Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders or Seattle coach Nate McMillan).

Dumars has said repeatedly he wants Brown to return, and doesn't want to kick a Hall of Fame coach to the curb prematurely.

Neither Dumars nor Pistons vice president of basketball John Hammond commented on Saturday.

"I just hope that by Friday I will be able to tell everybody exactly what is going on," Brown said.

Ferry, meanwhile, is very close to accepting a deal and coming back to Cleveland. He spent 10 years with the Cavaliers and three more in San Antonio before ending his NBA career after the 2002-03 season.

If Brown doesn't accept the Cavaliers job, Ferry will likely head Cleveland's basketball operations. That's quite a leap for someone 38 years old who has never been higher than the No. 3 guy and has been a front-office executive for just two years.

The Spurs director of basketball operations, however, is one of the league's up-and-coming executives. Many around the league thought it was only a matter of time before he directed the basketball fortunes of an NBA team.

His timetable, apparently, just became accelerated.

 

[NarlCavs]

I don't know if everyone caught Branson Wright's story in the Plain Dealer today. He wrote that Ferry was on his way to Cleveland yesterday to sign a contract to be GM but changed his mind at the last minute. It sounds like a deal is still almost done but there may have been some last minute details to work out.

Hopefully this gets done today so Ferry can at least be here a day before the draft and 5 days before free agency. I also hope Ferry isn't having a last minute change of heart about becoming Cavs GM.

 

[Karma]

I did catch that Narl. I only hope that this isn't because of the Larry Brown situation. I'll track down that link.

 

[Karma]

Here is the story Narl was talking about

CAVALIERS GM SEARCH
Ferry fails to finalize five-year deal
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
Danny Ferry was set to become the new general manager of the Cavaliers on Saturday, but while he was on his way to catch a plane to Cleveland, he held up on finalizing the deal for undisclosed reasons.

Ferry initially agreed to a five-year deal worth close to $10 million, according to two league executives. The deal also included incentives.

Before the negotiations hit a snag, Ferry, director of basketball operations for the San Antonio Spurs, was scheduled to start work today to get the Cavs involved in Tuesday's NBA draft.

The Cavs do not have a first- or a second- round pick, but that is expected to change by draft day.

The Cavs, according to several league sources, are working on making a trade or spending money to get a first-round pick.

The Cavs had been expected to announce a news conference introducing Ferry to the media early next week.

The Cavs talked to Ferry for several weeks. Those talks intensified when Ferry interviewed with the Cavs twice last week when the Spurs were in Detroit for the NBA Finals.

According to a league source, Ferry did not want to make a decision until the finals were over. Ferry initially accepted the Cavs' offer two days after the Spurs won the NBA championship.

Ferry has been in the Spurs' front office since September 2003 after playing 13 NBA seasons. He was selected by the Clippers with the second overall pick in the 1989 draft. Ferry held out and played overseas before signing with the Cavs, who received his rights from the Clippers following a trade that included Ron Harper. Ferry spent 10 seasons with the Cavs.

This hire would reunite Cavs coach Mike Brown and Ferry. Brown was an assistant coach with the Spurs for three seasons.

Ferry would be just one piece in the front-office puzzle that owner Dan Gilbert plans to put together.

The Cavs are waiting to hire Pistons coach Larry Brown as president. Brown had bladder-related complications due to hip surgery during this past season. Brown, 64, recently told the media that he will talk with doctors at the Mayo Clinic on Wednesday and make a decision following that exam.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/111977842425780.xml&coll=2

 

[LyXo]

Ferry tale

One of the ironies of the Cavs' hiring of Ferry to replace Jim Paxson was that Ferry, according to insiders, was brutal on the Cavs in his initial interview, saying new ownership was ruining the franchise. Eventually they seemed to agree, and now the Cavs are saying they'd like to retain Zydrunas Ilgauskas, one of Ferry's priorities.

Said owner Dan Gilbert in announcing the hiring Monday and estimated $10 million, five-year deal: "Danny Ferry brings championship-level executive experience to Cleveland from an organization (San Antonio, where he was director of basketball operations) that is looked upon as the premier basketball operation in the NBA. He is one of the top young, highly successful basketball executives in the league. The combination of [coach] Mike Brown and Danny Ferry is going to be a fantastic one. This is our [management] team."

The Cavs were believed to be close to a deal last weekend with Jiri Welsch going to the Phoenix Suns for Jake Voskuhl and the Suns' first-round draft pick, No. 21. But that was put on hold after Ferry's hiring.

Source | Chicago Tribune

This little bit I just read and the draft results gave me instant respect for Ferry. If he has the balls to tell the Cavs ownership that they're ruining the franchise, then he's going to be solid. He seems to know exactly what he's doing and he's pointing the Cavaliers in the right direct.

Too bad that Phoenix trade didn't go through. Voskuhl and the #21 (Nate Robinson) would have been the biggest steal since our trade with Orlando.