RealGM

He was easily the most idiotic owner in the history of professional sports. Here's an assortment of the deals that he helped to be done.

February, 1980 – The Cavaliers trade former Marquette hero, Butch Lee, along with their first-round choice in 1982 to the Lakers in exchange for Don Ford and the Lakers top pick, guard Chad Kinch. The pick L.A. acquired in 1982 was future Hall of Fame forward James Worthy.

September, 1980 – The Cavaliers trade Campy Russell – the team’s second-leading scorer – to the New York Knicks for forward Bill Robinzine.

September, 1980 – Four months after being selected by Dallas in the expansion draft, the Mavs send guard Mike Bratz to the Cavaliers for a 1984 1st rounder (Sam Perkins).

October, 1980 – After playing in just eight games with Cleveland, the Cavs send Bill Robinzine – along with a 1983 1st round draft pick (Derek Harper) and a 1986 first-rounder (Roy Tarpley) to the Mavericks in exchange for Richard Washington and Jerome Whitehead. Washington plays in 87 games for the Cavaliers. Whitehead appears in three.

February, 1981 – After 29 games with the Wine and Gold, Chad Kinch is dealt – along with a 1985 1st round pick (Detlef Schrempf) – to the Mavericks in exchange for guard Geoff Huston and a 1983 third-rounder (Larry Anderson).

December, 1981 – One season removed from his All-Star appearance – and after averaging 19.3 ppg in four years with the Cavs – forward Mike Mitchell , along with Roger Phegley is sent to the San Antonio Spurs for Ron Brewer, Reggie Johnson and cash.

didn't the nba award the cavs new owner (after this guy sold the team, or lost the team) an extra lottery pick for buying it?

How bad is something when the NBA has to throw in an extra pick to get you to buy it.

The NBA allowed the team to purchase picks as a condition of the Gunds actually buying the team. I swear those guys saved basketball in Cleveland (along with World B Free).

Along with the '86 draft.

Someone really needs to do a documentary of the misery of Cleveland sports........

That documentary dvd would need to come with a 12 pack included with the purchase.

gflem wrote:That documentary dvd would need to come with a 12 pack included with the purchase.

And a pack of special edition matches to burn it when you are done watching it.

Stepien would make a good "30 for 30."

I met Stepien once, when softball world first opened he pulled his mercedes up to the concession building, left his windows down with a bunch of bills mostly 5s and 1s laying on his console. He seemed like a nice enough guy though. I didnt have the balls to call him out about the Cavs and his idiotic moves, he seemed too nice.

The Stepien years were before my time. I had the good fortune to start following the Cavs (and basketball) during the Price and Daugherty heyday.

Ah the teams of my youth! He was so incredibly inept as an owner. Stepien is the reason teams are not allowed to deal consecutive first round picks or trade a pick more than two drafts away.

I used to see Jim Chones quite a bit and he talked about how hard it was to watch what was going on with the Cavs. Other teams used to keep their players in line by threatening to trade them to Cleveland.

The Mitchell deal is the one that killed me because he could actually really play. I was too young to understand was Stepien was doing or track what became of the traded picks, but when he dealt Mitchell I could see he was clueless and I was 9.

The bad thing is that the threat of trading players to the Cavs at that time was completely hollow. The Cavs clearly did not want any players with talent.

Better than the Paxson years.

While I understand why someone would want to take a shot at Paxson, this is truly the most erroneous comment you could make. Paxson was a terrible GM, but he still lucked up into getting LeBron. I'm not thinking that you have any idea what you are talking about.

GodDamnRobin wrote:Better than the Paxson years.

So what was your old name?