| Jarvis would be good
pick By David Aldridge Special to ESPN.com | |
Nobody asked me, but ...
For all the hubbub in Washington about whether to hire Isiah Thomas as coach -- and, believe me, things aren't nearly as far along with Thomas as you've been led to believe -- I think there's another person who the Wizards should seriously consider for the post.
Someone who can do the Xs and Os and can communicate with today's players while commanding respect of the veterans; someone who's been preparing for years to become an NBA head coach.
I'd hire Mike Jarvis.
Jarvis has been building a solid résumé ever since he coached Patrick Ewing at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High in Boston in the early '80s, from Boston University to George Washington University to St. John's.
He's so smooth with the media he was dubbed "The Senator" by some members of the D.C. press corps. He turns programs north in a hurry.
This is not a knock on Thomas, or the others who are serious candidates for the job -- Pistons assistant Gar Heard, ex-Net, Blazer and Knick Buck Williams and ex-Mavericks and Knicks coach John MacLeod. It's only a reflection of the reality of where the Wizards are as an organization.
Owner Abe Pollin has sold a minority interest of the team to America Online executive Ted Leonsis, and chances are he'll ultimately sell it all to Leonsis. But no one knows when that day is coming. Hiring Thomas only makes sense if there's a plan for him to ultimately succeed Wes Unseld as general manager. That's where Thomas' strengths lie, in evaluating personnel and creating a blueprint for success, then being the driving force behind it.
Problem is, Pollin's given no indication he's ready to step off stage. Neither has Unseld. Hiring Thomas just to be coach under that scenario is a waste of his talents. If the current Wizards braintrust is going to stick around for the indefinite future, they should hire a guy who'll be happy being coach for the long haul.
Whatever the Wizards do, they need to do it in a hurry. Doc Rivers wanted to coach in Washington, but had to take the Orlando job when Washington didn't seem to express much interest. Thomas has a nice job at NBC, so there's no hurry there, although if he is Washington's top choice, the Wizards are showing it in a funny way.
Again, nobody asked me. But I'd hire Jarvis.
Penny's value sliding in
Orlando
One of the first things that was brought to Rivers'
attention when he interviewed in Orlando, sources say, was how company-wide the
disgust with Penny
Hardaway is in the Magic organization. Rivers couldn't find anybody who was
still in Penny's corner, including players, coaches and front-office types.
That's one reason Rivers insisted on a fourth guaranteed year before he accepted the deal; chances are the Magic will make a lot of changes -- and might suffer in the standings because of it.
Meanwhile, GM John Gabriel scotched talk that the Magic are trying to pry Gary Payton from Seattle for Hardaway.
"We've talked to some teams, but they're not one of them," Gabriel said. But the Magic wouldn't mind getting out from under Horace Grant's annual $10 million payment.
Odds and ends
Among
the trade rumors gathering steam is Indiana shopping Dale Davis to Vancouver for the second
overall pick, which would give the Grizzle much-needed heft underneath and allow
the Pacers to snatch Lamar Odom or Elton Brand. ... Randy Wittman's candidacy
for Cleveland's head
coaching job is getting a big boost from Minnesota GM Kevin McHale,
who's liked what he's seen from Wittman on the bench in Minnesota. New Cavs GM
Jim Paxson will probably interview Wittman at the predraft camp this week.
Wittman's ascension isn't good news for Pacers assistant Rick Carlisle, who was
the hot coaching candidate a couple of years ago, but hasn't been in the running
for this year's jobs. ... Wondering what's seemingly changed Chris Webber's mind
about staying in Sacramento? His teammates
have had their impact, but so have the team's new owners, the Maloof brothers.
After the Kings were eliminated by Utah, the Maloofs sprung
for a weekend getaway for 10 players in Las Vegas. Each player had his own
limousine and a line of credit waiting for him at the Mandalay Bay hotel. ...
The Kings also had their own little civil war when deciding whether to give Oliver Miller --
who played in four games this season -- a full playoff share. At least two
players voted against giving him the share, but the majority won out and Big O
got his money.
