Mitch Lawrence: Bird & Ainge Departing; Lottery Pick Has Pot Problem

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

It looks like there are going to be plenty of ex-Celtics available
to coach the present Celtics when Pitino steps down or gets canned:
Bird, Ainge, Cowens....
New York Daily News Online | Metro Sports | Basketball
            5/16/99
            Mitch Lawrence
            West Nixes the Knicks 

            ATLANTA 

            Double-dribbling as Pat Riley hires Jerry West as GM to rebuild the 
            Heat:
            <snips>


            . . . What prospective No. 1 pick has such a major marijuana 
            problem, dating back to early in his high school days, that it could 
            drop him out of the top five spots? 
 
            . . . Phil Jackson will talk to the Nets, but only to jack up his 
            price in New York or L.A. Phil's ego doesn't allow him to coach 
            anywhere except the Garden or with Shaquille O'Neal. 
         
            Insiders say Magic ownership would rather buy out Chuck after season 
            than see Penny walk out the door as free agent this summer. . . . 
            Good thing Hakeem Olajuwon got into early foul trouble in Game 3 vs. 
            L.A. That allowed Scottie Pippen to jack up 27 shots, after taking 
            only 20 in first two games. Before his 37-point explosion, Pippen 
            told friends he is so fed up with Rudy Tomjanovich's offense (feed 
            post, stand outside and watch) that he was ready to bag the season. 
            . . . Scouts calling Mississippi prep star Jonathan Bender a 
            poor-man's Kevin Garnett. Has the same thin frame but not nearly the 
            jump-through-the-roof athleticism. Bender could go anywhere in draft 
            from 10 to 20.
            Slam Dunks
            Looks like Danny Ainge is out in Phoenix after the Suns' third 
            straight first-round fold. Ainge is expected to be replaced by 
            assistant Scott Skiles, who is tight with GM Bryan Colangelo. 
            Ainge's problem? Besides running a loose ship, the idea is to win 
            more playoff games as you move along as a coach. But under Ainge, 
            the Suns have won fewer each season. His first year they won two vs. 
            the Sonics. Last year they won one vs. the Spurs. This past week 
            they were swept out by Portland, marking the first time they failed 
            to win a first-round game since 1985.
            Tamper, Tamper: Story floating around ACC country is that the Bulls 
            have told Duke's Corey Maggette that if they have the No. 1 pick and 
            he comes out for the draft, they'll take him. You can do that with a 
            senior like Wally Szczerbiak. But not an underclassman. Maggette and 
            Rhode Island's Lamar Odom are coming out. They'll file by tonight's 
            midnight deadline.

            Q & A
            Q: What are the Pacers' plans if Larry Bird steps down as coach?
            A: First of all, Bird's exit is expected, regardless of how the 
            Pacers fare in the playoffs. The front-runner for the job is not 
            Rick Carlisle, Bird's No. 2 assistant who is seen as a rising 
            coaching star. The Pacers are expected to go after ex-Pacer Randy 
            Wittman, now on Flip Saunders' staff at Minnesota. Wittman has a 
            very good relationship with team president Donnie Walsh.
            E-mail the sports department
            at sports@web.nydailynews.com

            Original Publication Date: 05/16/1999