Bird To The Celtics - Pitino To The Nets

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

Thanks to BSG for mentioning this intriguing story....

One thing I would tell Ian O'Conner, is that Pitino can resign all he
wants,
he still can't coach another NBA team until Gaston frees him from his
contract,
which if Gaston has half a brain will require a first round draft pick
as
compensation. Certainly a Win - Win situation for the C's...

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Nets interested in Pitino
By Ian O'Conner, Westchester Journal News 

NEW YORK - The New Jersey Nets have discussed launching another
recruitment of Rick Pitino in event the beleaguered Celtics coach leaves
Boston, a high-ranking official close to the YankeeNets organization
told The Journal News. 

The official said Pitino was ''high on the list'' of prospective
candidates to replace Don Casey, sure to be fired at season's end. 

''The Nets have talked about going after him again,'' the official said.
''Rick said publicly he might resign after next season, but a lot of
people think things are so bad for him in Boston, he'll leave this year. 

''(The Nets) have new owners, but the organization remains very
intrigued by Rick. He still has a lot of friends with the Nets. Just
look at all the connections.'' 

Henry and Joe Taub, former majority owners who now hold a small piece of
the team, are close to Pitino and led the two failed courtships of the
coach in the spring of '96. Harvey Schiller, CEO of YankeeNets, was
commissioner of the Southeastern Conference when Pitino won a national
title for Kentucky. Lou Lamoriello, general manager of the team just
bought by YankeeNets, the New Jersey Devils, was athletic director at
Providence when Pitino took the Friars to the Final Four. 

George Steinbrenner, a partner with Nets owners Lew Katz and Ray
Chambers, knows Pitino through their interests in the horse business and
is said to admire the coach. John Parisella, one of Pitino's horse
trainers and a man the Nets tried to use as a middleman in negotiations
four years back, remains close to Nets general manager John Nash. 

Asked to comment on his team's interest in Pitino, Nets president
Michael Rowe said: ''We have a coach. We won't address next year until
this year is over with.'' 

Tampering rules prohibit NBA teams from contacting pro coaches under
contract, and from commenting publicly on their desire to hire them. 

One NBA general manager said word of the Nets' interest in Pitino is
''going around the league.'' 

Pitino has said he'd search for another NBA job, rather than a college
job, if he decides to leave the Celtics. 

Pitino just bought a $5.95 million home in Boston and has told
associates he plans on giving the Celtics one more year. But he recently
criticized the Boston fans, media and players, inspiring many league
observers to conclude he's trying to clear a path out of town. He earns
$7 million a year on a $50 million deal, but has been soundly criticized
for his impetuous personnel moves, his losing record, and his failure to
honor a guarantee that the Celtics would make the playoffs this season. 

Despite Pitino's problems in Boston, the Nets might be willing to pay
him big money. YankeeNets is planning to start its own regional TV
network and Schiller, a former executive with Turner Broadcasting, needs
marquee talent for the Nets and Devils to compete against the MSG
Network's Knicks and Rangers. 

Steinbrenner and the Nets aren't loathe to spend for name recognition.
Last year, the Nets courted Phil Jackson. In '96, with Butch Beard still
employed as coach, Nets owners met secretly with Pitino at the Pierre
hotel in Manhattan, offering him $20 million, a city apartment for his
wife, and mortgage payments on his Kentucky home. Weeks after Pitino
rejected that offer, Nets owners met with him at a Cincinnati airport
hotel, this time bidding as much as $30 million over five years, a deal
Pitino eventually declined while on a golfing trip in Ireland. 

Now the Celtics would gladly release Pitino and save the balance on his
$50 million contract. If Pitino resigns this year or next, there's
widespread belief in the NBA that Boston owner Paul Gaston would attempt
to hire Larry Bird as president and general manager.