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Paxson Speaks Out

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http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14402817&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46370&rfi=6


Paxson tells his side of the story
BOB FINNAN, Morning Journal Writer04/23/2005
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CLEVELAND -- An hour before the New Jersey game on April 5, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert walked into Jim Paxson's office at Gund Arena.


After a few minutes, Paxson realized why the owner was there.

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''He wanted me to resign or quit,'' Paxson said. ''He asked when would be the best time to make a change? I said, ÔAt the end of the season.' There's a lot of work to do. Three-and-a-half hours later, Stephen A. Smith was on the air.''

The ESPN analyst incorrectly reported that Paxson would be fired within the next 24 or 48 hours. Heck, it took 16 days later before the general manager got his pink slip.

Paxson got whacked on Thursday -- one day after the end of the regular season.

''I'm disappointed, but not surprised,'' he said. ''The contact became more and more limited with Dan. They paid a lot of money (for the team). They want to put their own people in charge.''

The Cavaliers are now on the clock for a new GM and coach. Paxson said he hopes they make the right picks.

''I hope these guys don't fail,'' he said. ''It's not good for the league. I'm not rooting for that. It's better for me that it happened now.''

Paxson had two years remaining on his contract, worth around $2 million. He'll take some time off, maybe do some traveling, perhaps take in a playoff game in Chicago where his brother is the Bulls GM.

''I'm in a good position financially,'' he said. ''I'm not going anywhere for a while. I'm not putting my house on sale (in Bratenahl).''

After Gilbert came aboard on March 1, Paxson knew his time was limited.

''We needed to sit down and talk through some things, know their vision,'' he said. ''The only way it could work is if the owner and GM are able to trust and believe in each other. He never wanted to develop that. I knew, even before the rumors, it would go this way. I was happy it happened so quickly.''

Paxson said he will take some time off to reflect on his next move -- if he does take another job.

''If someone calls, I don't know whether I'd be interested in getting back in,'' he said. ''After being out a year or so, based on some other things, I might get back in it. I might not. I'm not counting on anything.''

He said he's not been offered a job by the Bulls.

''I've never talked about that,'' he said.

Paxson was the Cavaliers GM for six years. He took over for Wayne Embry in the summer of 1999.

''It's difficult having to go through the public aspect of getting fired,'' he said. ''The NFL draft is this weekend. By the middle of next week, it'll go away.''

Paxson admits he made some mistakes over the years -- something he failed to acknowledge in the past. He probably wished he hadn't taken Trajan Langdon in the 1999 draft, even though it was Embry who recommended that he draft the Duke star. He was enamored with Arkansas guard Joe Johnson in 2001 and UConn swingman Caron Butler in 2002. However, he mistakenly caved into former coach John Lucas' love for DeSagana Diop and Dajuan Wagner.

''I think I learned from some of my mistakes,'' Paxson said. ''(Gilbert) wanted to do more deals than we did (at the trade deadline). When we traded for Jiri Welsch (a 2007 first-round pick to Boston), it took away some of our cap flexibility this summer and we would potentially lose a lottery pick if things went to (dust).''

In order to make the trade work, they took the restrictions off their first-round pick -- which was lottery protected. Now, Charlotte (via Phoenix) gets a lottery pick from Cleveland for the Wesley Person deal in 1997.

Paxson said former coach Paul Silas promised to start Welsch at shooting guard before the trade.

''I told Paul, 'I'm only doing it if you start him,''' Paxson said. ''Jiri got hurt in the first game. He has to play minutes to be effective.''

Paxson said the Cavaliers will be able to trade Welsch this summer.

''There's interest in him and Sasha (Pavlovic),'' he said. ''Luke (Jackson) is the best of the group. Paul said he thought Luke could be a starter at the end of the season.''

Paxson said he recommended that the Cavaliers wait until the end of the season to fire Silas. He was overruled.

''They wanted to fire him on March 8,'' Paxson said. ''I recommended that we not do it. I went through the whole thing. The veteran guys would have wondered if they would be there. There was no guarantee our record would be better. What kind of message would we be sending to a new coach if they fired (Silas) a week into it.''

Paxson thought Silas betrayed him in the back in their first meeting with Gilbert.

''Paul could be pretty manipulative,'' Paxson said. ''When the new owners took over, they met with me and Paul for an hour. Paul said, ÔJim and I don't talk much.' He made a power play then. They didn't share that with me until further down the road. I was disappointed that Paul didn't manage the roster more effectively.''

Paxson also stepped in after the Philadelphia game on March 18.

''Paul wanted to cut Jeff (McInnis),'' he said.

McInnis was benched for the entire game in Toronto on March 20. Silas was fired the next day.

''Both Gordon (Gund) and I thought Paul wasn't going to be the long-term answer (as coach),'' Paxson said. ''We offered him the job after (Jeff) Van Gundy said no.''

Paxson said LeBron James' rapid ascent to stardom meant that Silas' time in Cleveland was cut short.

''LeBron was better than I ever thought he'd be,'' Paxson said. ''He needs a coach that's ahead of the curve. That meant a better coach was needed sooner. Paul had his limitations. He was very stubborn. He didn't want my input, but he always wanted input in trades. He didn't want Drew (Gooden).''

Now, it's time for Gilbert to find Paxson's replacement, as well as a new coach.

''I told Dan, ÔYou have to act quickly,''' Paxson said. ''Everyone's at starting gate. You have to be ready to get out of the gate.''

NHCavs@aol.com
 
He didn't want Drew (Gooden).

I knew it all along. And it was weird how Drew actually peformed better when Silas backed his bags.
 
^

With AV coming off the bench quicker and Drew playing better once Silas left, perhaps the old claim of Silas making big men better is overstated. While Silas may get through to some bigs, he certaintly hurts others by not playing and showing confidence in them.
 
I agree both Drew, AV, and of all people Tractor, supposedly Silas's guy all played better.

The more and more I read the more I don't like Silas. It's a picture of a stubborn, insecure guy. Glad he's gone.

Paxson atleast improved on the job
 
Paxson said former coach Paul Silas promised to start Welsch at shooting guard before the trade.

Way to keep your promise.. Even though he got hurt the first game he played in.. He never started a game all year. Which I thought he should of just to see how he would react in that position.
 
Pretty interesting stuff from Pax. This only confirms what most of us thought about Silas. He was the wrong guy for the job. He sounds like a self-centered guy that is only worried about what's best for him.
 
its nice to hear what was going on behind closed doors. maybe all of the AP will lay off of gilbert now.
 
You also wonder how good a job Paxson would have done if he grew some balls. First hiring John lucas and then listening to him about drafting Diop and Wagner. Uggghh
 
Wow, Paxson really got screwed by Paul Silas.

If Jim had taken Joe Johnson and Caron Butler... I guess there is no LeBron James on the Cavaliers. ;)
 
I had always thought and it had been rumored that Lucas was the one behind the Wagner and Diop picks. Paxson would have had a much better record as GM if he would have followed his own instincts and not caved into others wishes.

The claims about Silas shows that Silas is worthy of any and all criticsm he receives. This guy has some serious issues.

This story also provides more info to raise more questions about Gilbert. It's foolish to come in 2/3 of the way through the season and immediately make changes and disrupt things. It would have been better to wait until after the season to implement much of what he wanted. I hope Gilbert realizes soon that he can't run the Cavs the way he runs his other businesses.

Hopefully Paxson is right that there is interest around the league in Welsch so he can be moved.
 
You know, jim sounds liek a good guy. Too bad he isnt a very good general manager. He has had some touhg stuff to go through recently. Heard he lost a step daughter last year and of course the booz fiasco. SO I wish him luck but i am defintely glad we are getting a change in the front office.
 
Pax does sound like a decent guy. To me, he's the quintessential middle-manager that gets the axe. Sounds like he caved into pressure from above and below (Gund, Lucas, Silas) and didn't listen to himself. Beware, though: hindsight's, well, you know. Easy to say "Yeah, I would have taken Joe Johnson" now. He pulled off some good trades and f-ed up tremendously with Boozer and those draft picks. Overall, I'd give him a C+ just because he got rid of Kemp. But C+ isn't good enough anymore.
 
''There's interest in him and Sasha (Pavlovic),'' he said. ''Luke (Jackson) is the best of the group. Paul said he thought Luke could be a starter at the end of the season.''

Best part of the article.
 
Paxson, while being a nice guy, lacked the strength to be a leader. If you are a GM who is weak, easily influenced and lacking faith to stick to your guns, you'll do a poor job. Much like Paxson here.
 

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