more Espn news...

His Indiana team is coming off a 56-victory season and, for the first time, posted the best
regular season record in the Eastern Conference.

The Pacers are 1-0 heading into Thursday's playoff game with Milwaukee and remain a
contentious favorite to make an unprecedented trip to the NBA Finals.

"Here I am searching for a new coach. Imagine that," Walsh
said in a recent interview. "We're having a great, great year
and the one thing I know is that my coach is not going to
come back, at least in the capacity he's in now. I want to try
and keep him in the organization somehow, but how'd you
like to be in the position of having to replace Larry Bird under
those circumstances."

Walsh last summer assessed his aging team and decided
not to offer contract extensions to Mark Jackson, Reggie
Miller and Rik Smits, productive, but aging veterans who will
become free agents July 1. Walsh had already drafted one
high schooler, Al Harrington, and traded for another,
Jonathan Bender. He saw the handwriting on the wall and
was not going to allow sentiment and misplaced loyalty to
ruin his franchise's future.

"Look, I love these guys. They've done a fantastic job over the years, so it's been a mixed
bag for me," he said. "We're having a great year, the veterans are playing at a much higher
level than I expected, really doing well, but they're angry with me because they feel I turned
my back on them. It's really been bittersweet."

However, as Jackson and Miller, et. al, may know by now, the team president is having a
change of heart. The first reason is that he sees a little more life in his "old guys." The
second -- and most important -- is the business of the salary cap.

"We all thought the cap was going to come in at $40 million next year," Walsh said. "Now, it
looks like maybe $36 million. If I don't re-sign my guys I'm not going to be able to replace
them because I won't have the cap room. So, what I'm planning to do is offer them all
short-term deals. We'll see if we can keep it together another year or so."

Looks like Walsh will win this one. Jackson, clever on offense, is painfully slow on
defense. Bird is said to be so disenchanted with Jackson that the 35-year-old would not
be back if he were to coach another year. Miller did not lead the Pacers in scoring -- Jalen
Rose did, 18.212 points a game to 18.148 -- for the first time since Chuck Person
averaged 21.6 in 1988-89. Miller does not bring his "A" game every night. Most of the time it
appears he can't, so no team will pay him what the Pacers can.

Smits will be 34, talks like he's 64, says he might retire. If Walsh waves another $6 million
in front of him, bet he will back.

If he keeps these three and can sign Rose to a long deal, Walsh will have assured his
team's future on the court. He says he will get a good coach, adding he will interview
assistant Rick Carlisle as well as Sacramento assistant Byron Scott when he is available.

An NBA executive says Walsh already has his guy "and it's not an assistant, but a big
name and a closely guarded secret."

When you're watch Rose continue to dominate and Miller struggle with his shot while the
Pacers are taking out the Bucks in four games, think about that one.

East Playoff talk
Philadelphia was a big winner, even though the Sixers lost an overtime game to the
Hornets Monday night. Philly's front line showed how vulnerable it can be when Derrick
Coleman broke out for 29 points, but with the home court advantage, Allen Iverson will be
stoked to finish this one off at home. However, the Sixers do need a wake up call from Matt
Geiger. Of course, Larry Brown is worried. "We squandered an opportunity, but we came
here and gave ourselves a chance to win both games. Hopefully, we understand that."

Of course, Vince Carter will play better in Game 2 in
Madison Square Garden. Will it be enough? Patrick
Ewing is due for a bounce back as well. The big
fellow scored 15 in Game 1 of the series but only had
eight with six minutes to play. Given the way Ewing
has bounced back to prominence, he appears due
for a big game, setting up a 2-0 New York series lead.

The Pistons are dead. Without Grant Hill, they have no chance. The saddest sight,
however, is Christian Laettner. The once-great competitor is beaten on every defensive
exchange. His constant bleating at the officials is an affront to memory of a guy who once
played with every fiber of his being and no longer knows how to do it.

Around the League
Lonnie Cooper, the respected agent, is making a huge mistake by pushing Lenny
Wilkens for the Washington job. The Wizards will further tarnish Wilkens' reputation. He
can't handle Rod Strickland any more than he could deal with Isaiah Rider. The Wiz need a
tough, aggressive coach like Darrell Walker. Strickland and Co. would run Wilkens out of
town.

Isiah Thomas wants the Hawks coaching job, but he can't have it unless he sells the
CBA. NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik reiterated the league's stand Tuesday. "We
have a very clear provision in our constitution that it's unconstitutional for anyone in a
managerial role or working as a coach to hold a significant interest in any other basketball
team or league." Nothing new here, Granik said, "It's been here longer than I've been
here."

If Thomas decides to take a job with the Hawks, Pacers or Nets, the NBA will, apparently,
give him reasonable time to dispose of the CBA.

The Magic have the ability to go $18 million under the salary cap this year, but only if they
renounce the rights to a number of free agents. They have plenty available. Of the 15
players on the roster at season's end, nine become free agents July 1. "I don't know if
we're going to be as active as people think," Doc Rivers said. "Sure, we'll try to improve the
team, you have to, but not by changing six to eight players. I've told these guys, I'd like them
all back."

Ben Wallace and Bo Outlaw will be signed. Ron Mercer, maybe. John Amaechi and
Chucky Atkins will go job hunting.