The conjecture among some media members in Cleveland is that Wittman, in the second year of a three-year, $3.9 million deal, will be fired when the season comes to a merciful end.

Others feel that owner Gordon Gund will stick with Wittman, rather than pay two coaches.

Starting shooting guard Matt Harpring told the Lake County (Ohio) News Herald that he thinks Wittman should be retained.

"Players don't get fired,'' said Harpring. "It's normally the coaches who get the brunt of it. Half the time, it's not deserving, but someone's got to take the blame. That's the bad thing about the NBA."

After jumping out to a surprising 15-7 start, the Cavs dropped 43 of their next 55 games to fall to 27-50. Amid speculation that Wittman was about to be fired, Gund said on March 8 that he would be retained for the remainder of the season.

Gund would not commit past this year.

"I haven't heard a thing,'' said Wittman. "You probably know as much as I do."

The Cavs' season started going downhill in late December, when 7-3 center Zydrunas Ilgauskas went down with a broken bone in his left foot. They were 15-9 when Ilgauskas was ruled out for the season.

"He got an unfair shake at things,'' said Harpring, referring to Wittman. "At the beginning of the season, we were doing real well. Injuries took a part of that away. 'Z' went down, which was big. Then, I went down a few days later. That's two starters. No matter what team you have, if you take away your franchise player, that's going to hurt you."

In mid-December, before Ilgauskas was sidelined, the Cavs won six straight -- including victories over Dallas, Indiana and Utah -- as they were one of the greatest surprises in the league over the first month of the season.

"We played great together,'' said Harpring. "We knew what each of us were doing out there. We had a great rotation as far as substitutions and we were feeding off each other. It was fun playing out there. When 'Z' went down, that changed things. It's hard to coach a team when you have changes and players are hurt."

Harpring said that Wittman can succeed, ... "if you give him a team of guys he wants in here. But, I know how the NBA works, and sometimes the coach doesn't always get the chance."

Personnel File

LOOKING FOR BIG BUCKS: Steady power forward Clarence Weatherspoon is one of five Cavs free agents at the end of the season. Weatherspoon's agent, Jim Sexton, told the Akron Beacon Journal that he and his client are looking for something like a six-year, $33 million deal.

"We want a long-term deal,'' said Sexton.

Weatherspoon, 30, is making $2.1 million this season.

"When the season is over,'' he said, "I'll sit down and try to make the best decision for me. I'll see what's best for me, whether it's staying here or moving on."

Weatherspoon is averaging 11.1 points and 9.7 rebounds a game.

"I think it's real important that we sign him,'' said Wittman. "We've got to have those character type of people. He's been out most consistent player by far all year."

Noteworthy

WITTMAN ON KEMP: Cleveland GM Jim Paxson would not comment on a report by NBC's Peter Vecsey that Cavs forward Shawn Kemp, who entered a drug rehabilitation center, was protected by the teams he's played for -- Seattle, Cleveland and Portland.

"I don't know when it happened or when it started,'' said Wittman

QUICK STUFF: Free-agents-to-be Chris Gatling and Jim Jackson are not likely to be re-signed by the Cavs. ... The Cavs have dropped 50 games for the second straight season, the first time they've done that since the mid-1980's. They were 32-50 last season ... they snapped a seven-game losing streak in fashion, routing Orlando, 101-78 in Cleveland.

QUOTEWORTHY: "I'm vertical. I'm not leaning any direction." -- Weatherspoon, when asked if he is favoring any team in the free-agent route.