Indystar.com: Pacers fire Mel Daniels

[Scoot McGroot]

http://www.indystar.com/article/2009102 ... el+Daniels

He's been with the team since '86 and they're letting him go as director of player personnel.

What do you think? Cost-cutting measures, or lack of production? Your thoughts?

[Miller4ever]

I loved what he did in the ABA. After a certain point though, some legends can't operate within in organization at the capacity they once could. Look at Al Davis.

[8305]

Does anyone know what a director of player personnel does in the NBA? I've gathered that for the last couple years Larry is making the trades and draft selections.

[Boneman2]

Maybe 'Sleepy is in line for the position. These guys ( Person, Daniels, Roger Brown, Sleepy, Kellog) form supportive roles w/ the players off the court, and if it's in the best interest for the franchise to put them on the books, than by all means hire them. Regardless, the Simons know it's good business to stay affiliated with former players.

[count55]

http://www.indystar.com/article/20091023/SPORTS/91023009/Pacers+fire+Mel+Daniels

He's been with the team since '86 and they're letting him go as director of player personnel.

What do you think? Cost-cutting measures, or lack of production? Your thoughts?

http://www.eightpointsnineseconds.com/2 ... o-conseco/

It wasn't cost cutting.

http://www.indystar.com/article/2009102 ... +departure

He apparently doesn't work and play well with others. I think he was the source for Vecsey's article this last Sunday, and I'm sure that Bird and Morway think he was the source.

This was a firing for cause...whether it was good cause or not is an open question.

[Miller4ever]

Kinda sucks that it was a departure of bad terms...He was a player I considered heavily for the first spot on my sig.

[8305]

Mel Daniels was probably the most valuable Pacer during the ABA era. No questioning his importance as to the franchise as a player. It makes sense for the icons of your team to be visible after thier playing days are over. It would be interesting to read a job description for the Indiana Pacer's director of player personnel. I'm not sure anyone outside the organization knows what Mel Daniels really did in this capacity with the team.

I wouldn't be surprised if Mel didn't have a fairly impressive title but very little real influence over personnel decisions. Mel's input into decisions may have decreased when Bird took full charge. My guess is Walsh was much more a diplomat than Bird and that skill would have soothed frustrations Mel might have suffered over the years.

It happens in all parts of the business world. New guy comes in to run an organization and he brings some of his people along. Long term members of the prior regime don't like the new guy's tactics. Some get over it some don't.

Even the model franchise (Colts) turned some key coaches over this off-season. It's part of the business.

[PR07]

Interesting move. Maybe Mel was getting a little too comfortable on the job.

[Scoot McGroot]

Even the model franchise (Colts) turned some key coaches over this off-season. It's part of the business.

Actually, they didn't. Titles changed, but all the roles remained the same, ultimately (except Dungy of course, but there wasn't even a head coaching search, the coach was promoted in house immediately).


Model franchises make things work and have turnover because their guys are well-received around the league, and are always on the way up and getting hired for promotions by other teams (positional coaches to another team to be coordinators, coordinators to another team to be a head coach). Other than that, most successful franchises maintain a solid continuity of coaches for the most part.

[Miller4ever]

Tom Moore, "consultant."

[Dunthreevy]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Sam Perkins promoted to Mel's position.