ollie had previously played a similar role with the cleveland cavaliers. jim paxson, cavaliers gm at the time, recalled his motivation for signing ollie: "we thought he could come in and be a bridge for us at the point guard position," paxson recalled, "and also be a good influence on our younger players, the primary one being lebron james." paxson cited ollie's "professionalism and approach to the game" as qualities the team valued.