By Paul Levine Jun 27, 2005, 23:52 GMT
Los Angeles - Just days after celebrating the crowning of the San Antonio Spurs as NBA champions, Danny Ferry has decided to leave to become the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to new team spokesman Tad Carper on Monday.
Ferry, the director of basketball of operations for the Spurs since September 2003, agreed to a five-year deal worth close to $10 million dollars, and includes incentives, according to the Akron Beacon Journal quoting two league executives.
Ferry, who replaced fired Jim Paxson, is no stranger to Cleveland. He spent 10 of his 13 NBA seasons with the Cavaliers and appeared in a club-record 723 games from 1990-2000.
Just in time for Tuesday's NBA Draft, Ferry will try to rebuild the Cavaliers around All-Star guard LeBron James, after the team faded down the stretch last season and failed to make the playoffs.
Since new owner Dan Gilbert took control of the club in the second half of the season, the Cavaliers have been undergoing a facelift from the top.
Before Ferry was hired, Mike Brown was named the new head coach earlier this month. Could Detroit Pistons head coach Larry Brown be far behind from becoming Cleveland's president of basketball operations?
Brown, 64, must first receive medical clearance. He has had bladder-related complications due to hip surgery during this past season, and told told reporters before Game 7 of the NBA Finals, he will consult with doctors at the Mayo Clinic on Wednesday before making a decision.
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