For years, former Cavaliers General Manager Wayne Embry tried to land Jim Jackson.

Embry was gone when current GM Jim Paxson acquired Jackson in a deal last season that sent Brevin Knight to the Atlanta Hawks.
Jackson, a former high school star in Toledo and later at Ohio State, arrived with much hoopla. He departed with little notice. "I wish it had worked out," said Jackson, "but for several reasons it did not. That's the way of the NBA."

In 38 games with the Cavaliers last season, Jackson averaged 10.3 points and 3.7 rebounds. He never looked comfortable under former coach Randy Wittman's system, shooting 39 percent from the field. "With [Wittman's] situation up in the air," Jackson said, "I think it affected everyone on the team."

Jackson, 31, was picked up by the Miami Heat in early December. In 23 games, he's the Heat's third-leading scorer, averaging 11.7 points a game.

"He's done a great job for us," said Miami coach Pat Riley. "He's been a strong perimeter presence."

Riley recently took Jackson out of the starting lineup, replacing him with Kendall Gill at the small forward spot. "It was anything but a demotion," said Riley. "We were 9-26 at the time. I wanted to get more offensive balance from the bench."

The Heat won three straight with the shakeup. "I don't mind coming off the bench at all," Jackson said. "We won three straight. That's all that counts."

Remember when:

The nation celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day yesterday. It was special for Cavs coach John Lucas.

"My fondest memory of Dr. King came in 1963, when I was just a kid," said Lucas. "I was in Washington, D.C., at the time and participated in the march on D.C.

"It is something that I will never forget."

Finally:

Cavs leading scorer Lamond Murray underwent surgery to repair a broken nose yesterday at the Cleveland Clinic. He was placed on the injured list and is expected to be out for two weeks. . . . Trajan Langdon was added to the 12-man active roster. "He will be used as a back-up at both guard positions," Lucas said.