| Thursday, April 27
By Jeffrey Denberg
Special to ESPN.com |
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Donnie Walsh is a man in a unique position.
His Indiana team is coming off a 56-victory season and, for the first time, posted the best regular season record in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers are 1-0 heading into Thursday's playoff game with Milwaukee and remain a contentious favorite to make an unprecedented trip to the NBA Finals.
|  | | Pacers brass figured to let Reggie Miller walk, but now they want him back. |
And yet ...
"Here I am searching for a new coach. Imagine that," Walsh said in a recent interview. "We're having a great, great year and the one thing I know is that my coach is not going to come back, at least in the capacity he's in now. I want to try and keep him in the organization somehow, but how'd you like to be in the position of having to replace Larry Bird under those circumstances."
There's more.
Walsh last summer assessed his aging team and decided not to offer contract extensions to Mark Jackson, Reggie Miller and Rik Smits, productive, but aging veterans who will become free agents July 1. Walsh had already drafted one high schooler, Al Harrington, and traded for another, Jonathan Bender. He saw the handwriting on the wall and was not going to allow sentiment and misplaced loyalty to ruin his franchise's future.
"Look, I love these guys. They've done a fantastic job over the years, so it's been a mixed bag for me," he said. "We're having a great year, the veterans are playing at a much higher level than I expected, really doing well, but they're angry with me because they feel I turned my back on them. It's really been bittersweet."
However, as Jackson and Miller, et. al, may know by now, the team president is having a change of heart. The first reason is that he sees a little more life in his "old guys." The second -- and most important -- is the business of the salary cap.
"We all thought the cap was going to come in at $40 million next year," Walsh said. "Now, it looks like maybe $36 million. If I don't re-sign my guys I'm not going to be able to replace them because I won't have the cap room. So, what I'm planning to do is offer them all short-term deals. We'll see if we can keep it together another year or so."
Looks like Walsh will win this one. Jackson, clever on offense, is painfully slow on defense. Bird is said to be so disenchanted with Jackson that the 35-year-old would not be back if he were to coach another year. Miller did not lead the Pacers in scoring -- Jalen Rose did, 18.212 points a game to 18.148 -- for the first time since Chuck Person averaged 21.6 in 1988-89. Miller does not bring his "A" game every night. Most of the time it appears he can't, so no team will pay him what the Pacers can.
Smits will be 34, talks like he's 64, says he might retire. If Walsh waves another $6 million in front of him, bet he will back.
If he keeps these three and can sign Rose to a long deal, Walsh will have assured his team's future on the court. He says he will get a good coach, adding he will interview assistant Rick Carlisle as well as Sacramento assistant Byron Scott when he is available.
An NBA executive says Walsh already has his guy "and it's not an assistant, but a big name and a closely guarded secret."
When you're watch Rose continue to dominate and Miller struggle with his shot while the Pacers are taking out the Bucks in four games, think about that one.
East Playoff talk
Philadelphia was a big winner, even though the Sixers lost an overtime game to the Hornets Monday night. Philly's front line showed how vulnerable it can be when Derrick Coleman broke out for 29 points, but with the home court advantage, Allen Iverson will be stoked to finish this one off at home. However, the Sixers do need a wake up call from Matt Geiger. Of course, Larry Brown is worried. "We squandered an opportunity, but we came here and gave ourselves a chance to win both games. Hopefully, we understand that."
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Of course, Vince Carter will play better in Game 2 in Madison Square Garden. Will it be enough? Patrick Ewing is due for a bounce back as well. The big fellow scored 15 in Game 1 of the series but only had eight with six minutes to play. Given the way Ewing has bounced back to prominence, he appears due for a big game, setting up a 2-0 New York series lead.
The Pistons are dead. Without Grant Hill, they have no chance. The saddest sight, however, is Christian Laettner. The once-great competitor is beaten on every defensive exchange. His constant bleating at the officials is an affront to memory of a guy who once played with every fiber of his being and no longer knows how to do it.
Around the League
Lonnie Cooper, the respected agent, is making a huge mistake by pushing Lenny Wilkens for the Washington job. The Wizards will further tarnish Wilkens' reputation. He can't handle Rod Strickland any more than he could deal with Isaiah Rider. The Wiz need a tough, aggressive coach like Darrell Walker. Strickland and Co. would run Wilkens out of town.
Isiah Thomas wants the Hawks coaching job, but he can't have it unless he sells the CBA. NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik reiterated the league's stand Tuesday. "We have a very clear provision in our constitution that it's unconstitutional for anyone in a managerial role or working as a coach to hold a significant interest in any other basketball team or league."
Nothing new here, Granik said, "It's been here longer than I've been here."
If Thomas decides to take a job with the Hawks, Pacers or Nets, the NBA will, apparently, give him reasonable time to dispose of the CBA.
The Magic have the ability to go $18 million under the salary cap this year, but only if they renounce the rights to a number of free agents. They have plenty available. Of the 15 players on the roster at season's end, nine become free agents July 1. "I don't know if we're going to be as active as people think," Doc Rivers said. "Sure, we'll try to improve the team, you have to, but not by changing six to eight players. I've told these guys, I'd like them all back."
Ben Wallace and Bo Outlaw will be signed. Ron Mercer, maybe. John Amaechi and Chucky Atkins will go job hunting.
Jeffrey Denberg, who covers the NBA for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
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