RealGM

Larry Bird’s head-faking, bed-unmaking, Dwight Howard imitating stretch as Pacers president is coming to a conclusion at season’s end regardless of how the 26-18 team finishes, maintains someone very much in the know. “He has definitely decided not to return,” the source asserted.

A handshake promise was given Simon last summer by Bird that he would consider re-upping for another season, but that has been ruled out. It’s believed Simon is aware of such and has a petite list of prospective replacement candidates.

The firm belief by those with a pulse on the situation: Simon is more apt to choose a marquee name like Reggie Miller or Chris Mullin as opposed to promoting the people on site, general manager David Moray or personnel director Kevin Pritchard.

- New York Post
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_spo ... R7tWWRc5iJ

I'm fine with Bird retiring. He's earned the right to do what he wants. It wasn't a perfect tenure, but I think he leaves us in good shape. I'm not excited about the prospects of the other names mentioned as replacements though. I'd prefer Bird stay on through whatever goes down this summer. I think Pritchard was unnecessarily lionized early in his time in Portland, but I do think he's competent and I felt good with him in the organization. I'd prefer things get turned over to him.

They should replace Bird with Deron Williams's Dad. Or Mom. Right before free agency starts this summer.

Would it be a conflict of interest to hire Deron Williams' agent?

mizzoupacers wrote:They should replace Bird with Deron Williams's Dad. Or Mom. Right before free agency starts this summer.

His mom is from Indy.

^^^ Coach Williams and her lead assitant, Coach Howard, Dwight's mom, could lead us to a title.

Ball Don't Lie weighed in on this. In regards to hiring a "big name" GM, this article has this to say:

Hopefully the Pacers think more about wins in the ledger, instead of a splashy name to put fannies in those seats. They weren't coming out when Larry Legend was in charge, Pacers brass. There's your clue.

Bird is denying that a decision has been made.

Yeah, and I have no idea who this source is. Herb Simon confirms Bird isn't solid on anything.

Bird won't make any kind of announcement until after the season whether he has made a decision or not. Personally, I don't think he has made a decision yet.

If he does step down, Kevin Pritchard or Chris Mullin should be the top candidates...in my opinion.

This is all according to Peter Vescey, so take it with a grain of salt.


I don't doubt that this could be Larry's last year. It just seems odd as he's been pretty consistent though out his GM tenure that every year he takes time and makes a decision in the offseason. This would be outside of that consistent behavior, and if Larry Legend is anything, it's consistent. Also known as stubborn.

Maybe Bird doesn't want to make a bunch of crucial decisions because he knows he won't be around to see them through. Probably feels another GM should make those decisions if he is hesitant to commit for at least 4-5 more seasons.

That's the right thing to do if this is the case.

To be honest, I would love for Donnie Walsh to return. His expertise would be invaluable in dealing with our situation this offseason. We will have multiple major issues to deal with, so we are in need of some long-term planning.

If Bird is leaving I"d like to see Reggie Miller, but I'd be real ok with Pritchard. Or Derons mom!!!

By By now everyone should have read Bird's response to this report. Bird hasn't made a decision yet as he will do every year. Vecsey is an idiot who is wrong more often then he is right. He said the same thing last year and it wasn't any more true then. If he keeps making this story up every year then sooner or later he's going to get it right.
I don't think Bird is the kind of guy who would leave us hanging high and dry by just making a last minute decision and taking off. When Bird starts grooming his sucsessor then I think we'll get an idea as to when he'll be leaving. No one in their right mind would go through the pain and work Bird has to turn this team around and then when he's facing the point where he can make the biggest impact on this team, leave. This summer will be our last best to improve this team to a title contender status. The team won't be under the cap for years to come after this. Bird can spend approx. 20 mil in free agency due to Hibberts low cap hold, then sign Hibbert to put us near the LT and that's where we'll stay. The 1 or 2 moves he makes this summer are critical to what the Pacers will be for the next 10 years. We need Bird to be the man making those decisions and he won't bail out on that.