| | Donnie Walsh's public stance has always been the same: He doesn't really need a coach until October. What's the rush, right?
|  | | The Pacers want to keep Austin Croshere, but who will coach him? |
But should we believe him? Walsh is waiting to see if Isiah Thomas can sell the CBA and replace Larry Bird as coach of the Pacers. He's got Rick Carlisle in the wings but Walsh's hook is baited for Thomas.
Bottom line: Don't expect Walsh to be as passive about the situation as he says. The Pacers president is privately telling his peers that he might pull the plug on Thomas in 10 days to two weeks unless there is substantial progress toward a resolution of his ownership of the minor basketball league.
Wednesday night at the Hawks summer league doubleheader, Atlanta president Stan Kasten was seen commiserating with Walsh, who hasn't had a coach since Bird left a few days after the Finals.
Unlike the Hawks, who waited most of the winter to see if Thomas could extricate himself, the Pacers don't need Isiah's charisma to sell tickets. Indiana sold out last season and will do it again. The Pacers are veterans of NBA wars who have every chance to get back to the Finals next summer.
Walsh believes Thomas will enhance his team, possibly the link that will keep Jalen Rose in an Indiana uniform. But Thomas is hardly critical to the franchise's future.
Meanwhile, the Hawks are very happy with Lon Kruger and the increasing problem for Thomas is that a growing number of teams have discovered they can get along without him.
In other Pacers news, Walsh is cautious but optimistic about his free agents, of which he has many, including Reggie Miller, Jalen Rose and Austin Croshere.
"I think we can keep most of them," he said. "I'd really like to keep them all if we can. With (Jonathan Bender) improving, we would really have a nice squad to bring back next season."
Croshere, 25, a quick, 6-9 small forward, is very intriguing for a number of teams because he can be had for much less than a maximum contract, but his potential after a terrific playoffs run in which he averaged 9.4 ppg is enormous.
And on the coaching front, word is that no matter if it's Thomas or Carlisle coaching the team, assistant coach Dick Harter will be returning.
Hill makes a mistake
So, what's up with Grant Hill, anyway?
Why would arguably one of the brightest players in the NBA, a guy known for his impeccable manners and likable manner, blow off a respected square shooter and a close friend, Joe Dumars, as he did?
Why would Hill, who's been around, fall in love with Goofy and Mickey Mouse?
We're talking Duke man.
And the strangest part of this entire episode is that Hill certainly doesn't have a better basketball situation in Orlando than he did in Detroit.
| |  | | Hill |
Where's the big man to board and draw double teams?
Where's the point guard who can lead Hill's team deep in the playoffs?
Why would Hill commit without Tim Duncan, who obviously had no desire to leave David Robinson's protective shadow?
Ask the coaches and GMs hanging around Atlanta this week and they shrug.
Even with Tracy McGrady the Magic don't move much higher than the Pistons, who offered Jerry Stackhouse as Hill's counter-punch. We all see how callow McGrady is. The kid's 21 years old. He's entitled, blinded by dollars as one team after another offers him upwards of $70 million.
Hill acknowledged to Detroit columnist Terry Foster a few days ago that perhaps he should have looked Dumars in the eye and told him he was leaving, not leak the story to the press.
That Hill could not do it or would not do it, diminishes him as a man.
And now he can look forward to a future in which he is needed 40 minutes a game, in which he will be called on to score 25, rebound, set up his teammates and play hard at the defensive end as the Magic try to cover for their interior weakness.
By time the playoffs come around, Hill is going to be a weary guy.
Sound familiar? It's a major reason he's never advanced to the second round.
By the way, if Arn Tellem's quest is to attract big endorsement dollars for McGrady, does anybody think he will eclipse Hill?
Around the League
The Tracy McGrady-Miami stuff was a joke.
McGrady is a base-year player, so the Heat could not open cap room for him without trading a host of players the Raptors really don't want.
They needed a third team with cap room to pull it off. As one GM said, "As hard as it is to open cap room in the new era, why would any team give it up to load up on mediocre players and help Miami at the same time?
Raptors GM Glen Grunwald would like to get something back for McGrady, but he isn't about to put up Antonio Davis in a package to do it. Yet, that's what some would have you believe.
Atlanta is looking at Howard Eisley and Greg Anthony to come in and steady young Jason Terry. The Hawks aren't likely to get either, though. But they are going to talk to Anthony Carter about their $2.25 million exception. The word out of Miami is that the Heat believe they can get a better player than Carter for their money.
| |  | | Eisley |
Don't sneeze at the Pistons' $5.3 million in cap room. Only Chicago, Orlando and the Clippers have more.
Since the Clippers don't spend money, the Pistons, Toronto and Golden State have a chance to steal some nice talent at a relatively cheap price.
The Pistons are making a run at the Bucks' Tim Thomas and the Blazers' Brian Grant, but they would move half the roster to clear room for Jalen Rose, who can step in for Hill and keep the team in the playoff contention. If that fails they will make a pitch for Maurice Taylor, Austin Croshere, Joe Smith, Kurt Thomas, Cuttino Mobley, Eisley or Anthony.
Ah, to be a free agent with even moderate talent in the NBA.
Jeffrey Denberg, who covers the NBA for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
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ALSO SEE
Pistons' Hill confirms he'll be Magic's man
Duncan not jumpin' at Magic offer, stays with Spurs
Aldridge: Isiah's CBA playing hardball with NBA
Denberg: Magic win first round of free-agent war
Stein: Why would we listen to Hill now?
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