Bucks join Knicks in pursuit of Pacers' CEO Donnie Walsh

[Epicurus]

The sidebar in RealGM's report mentions that Rick Carlisle would automatically be crossed off the list of coaching candidates if Walsh was GM. Walsh must have fired Carlisle in Indy or something.

How about Walsh as GM and Larry Bird as coach? Bird's going to get fired anyway, and he was a good coach although he always said he'd never coach somewhere more than three years.

My God, how off base can one be. Larry Bird was a great, great, great player. Larry Bird had no business pretending to be a head coach in the NBA (or probably at any level). His assistants did the actual coaching and he had some very good and experienced players. Bird contributed little to nothing as coach, and to his credit, he realized it.

[fam3381]

Epi, I don't know how closely you follow the Pacers but I'd be curious for your general thoughts on Carlisle (which you may have given elsewhere and I missed) and Walsh.

[Epicurus]

Like them both a lot. I met Walsh long ago when he was recruiting Terry for South Carolina (when Frank McGuire was coaching there). Great basketball and organizational mind. The only real problem was when he or someone believed that you could have a figure head, Bird, with the gm title and still do what you've done previously. I think it glunk up the works a bit.

I don't know anything more about Carlisle than anyone. Team did well during his tenure, but it did well before his tenure. I think he is a bit rigid in his relationship with the players, or is the word "cold." He obviously from his apprenticeship years learned well the mechanics of the game. Terry really likes him and I won't be surprised if they don't work together, except if Carlisle goes to Milwaukee.

[worthlessBucks]

I think Kohl just wants to use 'Shut the F up Donnie (Donny)' in real life context.

[GrandAdmiralDan]

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My God, how off base can one be. Larry Bird was a great, great, great player. Larry Bird had no business pretending to be a head coach in the NBA (or probably at any level). His assistants did the actual coaching and he had some very good and experienced players. Bird contributed little to nothing as coach, and to his credit, he realized it.

Rick Carlisle being one of those assistants, notably.

Like them both a lot. I met Walsh long ago when he was recruiting Terry for South Carolina (when Frank McGuire was coaching there). Great basketball and organizational mind. The only real problem was when he or someone believed that you could have a figure head, Bird, with the gm title and still do what you've done previously. I think it glunk up the works a bit.

I don't know anything more about Carlisle than anyone. Team did well during his tenure, but it did well before his tenure. I think he is a bit rigid in his relationship with the players, or is the word "cold."

That is what I have heard as well from people that have been around Carlisle extensively.

He obviously from his apprenticeship years learned well the mechanics of the game. Terry really likes him and I won't be surprised if they don't work together, except if Carlisle goes to Milwaukee.

That seems like it would be a good fit for Terry. Carlisle's lead assistant. Back in a position Terry excelled in.
Unless he chooses to do something else next season (since this is the last season the Bucks pay him a salary) I'd say there is a 99% chance that he winds up as someone's assistant coach.

There will be a few current lead assistants that move up to head coach between now and next season, so there would be a few openings for Stotts at lead assistant.

[emunney]

Isn't TS doing some work with the D-League this year? How's that working out?

[europa]

I've long been a fan of Donnie Walsh. He would be a great hire for the Bucks in my opinion.

[Scoot McGroot]

And where does this put the Rick Carlisle/Kevin O'Neil dynamic duo coaching rumor? Maybe a Pacers fan can comment on who fired Carlisle and was that a Bird decision or Walsh decision.

It, apparently, was Bird that fired his best friend Rick Carlisle this off-season. However, when seeing the reaction of Rick Carlisle (it seemed like he had the weight of the world off his shoulders and smiled and laughed for the first time in years), it seemed like a mercy decision.



However, I honestly think Donnie either sticks around in Indy or goes to NY. The guy LOOOOOOVES New York. He has always talked extremely fondly of the Knicks and the city of New York. Plus, the guy loves a challenge. I really think he would love the Knicks job, or that he'd take over the Pacers again out of a sense of loyalty to the organization (not that leaving the Pacers would be disloyal).

[Hawks]

I would like for Walsh to come to the Hawks and bring Carlisle along with him. Imagine how good the Hawks would be with a REAL headcoach. I am not sure which situation is the best of the two Hawks or Bucks. He has room to make moves in Atlanta but he would be working with perhaps the dumbest and sorriest ownership group in all of sports. I dunno the Bucks side of the deal.

[europa]

If the choice were between the Hawks and Bucks, I think Walsh would be a fool to take the Milwaukee job. Atlanta has a much brighter future in my opinion.

[bigballajohn]

if we got don walsh, a new head coach (rick carlisle), a tough interior defender, and a good perimeter defender, we could do some damage in the east

[europa]

if we got don walsh, a new head coach (rick carlisle), a tough interior defender, and a good perimeter defender, we could do some damage in the east

What's truly sad is the Bucks' greatest needs now are the same exact ones they had a year ago. They did nothing in the past year to truly improve. They still need better PG play, a legitimate SF and quality defenders in the starting lineup. The past two seasons have been a monumental waste of time as a Bucks fan.

[rilamann]

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What's truly sad is the Bucks' greatest needs now are the same exact ones they had a year ago. They did nothing in the past year to truly improve. They still need better PG play, a legitimate SF and quality defenders in the starting lineup. The past two seasons have been a monumental waste of time as a Bucks fan.

It would kind of ironic if we hired Donnie Walsh Europa since you have been saying for awhile the Bucks should build in the mold of those 90's Pacers teams.

Something I definatly agree with as well.

Hire Donnie Walsh and let him find our Dale Davis.

A PF in that mold is exactly what we need right now.

[europa]

If the Bucks plan to keep Redd, than Walsh would be an ideal candidate without a doubt in my opinion. But even if the decision is made to trade Redd, I'd still love to see Walsh hired as the GM. His track record is strong and he's proven he can build elite teams and legitimate contenders.

[DH34Phan]

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The past two seasons have been a monumental waste of time as a Bucks fan.

Are you serious? Watching Michael Redd has been a complete joy.

[old skool]

I don't expect Walsh to be taking on any long term projects at age 67. He should look for a team that is on the verge of success and has a young exec to groom.

That sounds like Atlanta or Milwaukee, more than NY. But hometown ties are often difficult to overcome.

I see various roster issues. Last year there was a woeful lack of depth. The team does not have a serviceable legitimate power forward. The team has not had a point guard since TJ was traded. (Mo is worth developing, but the lack of an alternative PG is troubling. Bell is a SG or SF. Ivey is a very limited PG.)

I think that the team also has had coaching issues. Stotts was by far the most experienced head coach the team has had in five seasons. Porter and LK are a couple of ex-players trying to take the fast track to the coaching ranks. I'm not sure that is the best way to go. NBA coaches are short term propositions and a ton of experience and success is not guarantee of future success (See: Larry Brown & the Knicks). But I think that having such inexperienced coaches makes the job that much more difficult.

Rumors of possible front office changes do little for me. (See: Doug Collins)

The last two seasons have been disappointing but hardly a total waste. Bogut has developed considerably and Mo Williams has gained valuable experience. They might have both been better off if they had better direction and stronger management, but we fans are not in a position to evaluate that. All we can see is that the results have stunk.

oLd sKool