Cavaliers Fire Fratello as Part of a Shake-Up

A month after the Cleveland Cavaliers ended an injury-plagued 22-28 season, Mike Fratello has been fired as coach.

The move Tuesday was part of a shake-up in which General Manager Wayne Embry stepped aside to be replaced by Jim Paxson, the team’s vice president of basketball operations.

Fratello still has a year left on his contract, which the Cavaliers will buy out.

During Fratello’s six-year tenure, the Cavaliers compiled a 248-212 record and made the playoffs four times. But Cleveland’s playoff record was 2-12 during that time and the Cavaliers never made it out of the first round.

Attendance at Gund Arena dropped from an average of 16,942 in 1997-98 to 14,120 this year.

“With injuries,” Fratello said in a statement released by the team, “we were in a constant state of change.”

Fratello, 52, did not attend a news conference where owner Gordon Gund announced the front office changes. But in his statement he thanked the Cavaliers and said he regretted not being able to reach the goals he had set for the team.

Paxson said the Cavaliers would try to replace Fratello before the NBA draft June 30. No candidates were mentioned.

Fratello coached for seven years in Atlanta, then worked as a commentator for NBC and the Clippers for three seasons.

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A Baptist youth convention planned for the Alamodome in San Antonio on June 25-26 could conflict with a game should the Spurs reach the NBA finals. Team executives said they have been negotiating with all parties involved to try to work out a compromise.

No conflict would occur if either of the current playoff series lasts six or seven games. But if both series finish in five games or less, there could be a problem.

Alamodome director Mike Abington said the Baptist convention was scheduled before it was known the playoff season would last longer than usual because of the NBA lockout.

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Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors and Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics were unanimous choices on the all-rookie team selected by the 29 NBA coaches. Also picked for the team were Sacramento’s Jason Williams, Vancouver’s Mike Bibby and Orlando’s Matt Harpring.

The Clippers’ Michael Olowokandi was chosen for the second team.