The Wayne Embry Interview
By:
Michael D. McClellan
|
Monday, January 11th, 2004
You finished your playing career with the Bucks, and then
directed the negotiations with Oscar Robertson which
brought Mr. Robertson to Milwaukee. The move helped
propel the Bucks to the 1971 NBA championship and
establish yourself as a rising front office talent.
Please tell me about that 1971 Bucks team, and your role
in shaping it.
As the Bucks vice-president and general manager of the
Bucks, you handled one of the biggest trades in league
history. The deal sent Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Los
Angeles Lakers for Junior Bridgeman, Brian Winters, Elmore
Smith and Dave Meyers. Please explain the mechanics
behind that trade, and what it meant to both teams.
As vice-president and general manager of the Bucks, you
squared off against the Celtics in the 1974 NBA Finals.
How did it feel going up against some of your old friends,
and what stands out most in your mind about that series?
In 1985 you were named vice-president & general manager of
the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it wasn’t long before you
once again crossed paths with Red Auerbach. The issue
this time wasn’t a championship, but instead the Number 1
pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. Please take me back to that
draft – were the Cavaliers ever interested in drafting Len
Bias?
Your tenure at Cleveland was highly successful. In
addition building the Cavaliers into a consistent playoff
contender, you were named The Sporting News NBA Executive
of the Year in 1992 and 1998. Where do these honors rank
in terms of your overall accomplishments?
The owners knew that I had a close relationship with
Oscar, so they asked me to make a call on their behalf.
So I made the key inquiry for them. Having Kareem
[Abdul-Jabbar] and Oscar on the same team was an
unbelievable combination for us.
Kareem requested to be traded. He had one year remaining
on his contract, and it was my intention to honor his
request. The ownership felt the same way. We knew that
Kareem was going to leave as soon as his contract expired,
so it was my job to create the best trade on behalf of the
Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers simply had the best deal on
the table.
It was a great series, and would have been even greater
had we beaten them. I don’t remember many details, but
Kareem’s skyhook to win Game 6 stands out in my mind.
That, and neither team could seem to maintain homecourt
advantage.
Yes, the Cavaliers seriously considered drafting Bias.
When I arrived there was an ongoing debate about whether
to take Bias or Brad Doherty. Fortunately, I had enough
influence to swing the choice to Doherty.
It’s nice to be recognized. It’s also very rewarding to
see all of your hard work pay off. As far as ranking
them, it’s really hard to say.
