Carlisle can coach but never caught a break with Pacers
After four years on the job, Rick Carlisle is out as Indiana Pacers coach. He had one losing season, this past one, a 35-47 finish that was the worst the franchise has suffered through in 18 years.
He had one remarkable one, a 61-win joy ride right out of the gate in 2003-04 that ended in the Eastern Conference finals.
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| Hey, at least the headache of coaching the Pacers is over for Carlisle. (Getty Images) |
Wednesday afternoon, following lengthy discussions the previous day with CEO Donnie Walsh and president Larry Bird, Carlisle got a reprieve from more migraines down the road.
"Technically, I'm still executive vice president," Carlisle said with a smile on his face. "You can still call me that."
But if as expected, he's passing on joining Bird in the front office, "I'll be free. I'll be a free agent."
Carlisle has until June 15 to decide whether to remain with the Pacers, but coaching is what he loves to do, and it's unlikely he'll be out of work long. He's already been rumored to be the top candidate in Seattle. Other open jobs include Charlotte, Memphis and Sacramento.
Although none of those situations is lined with rose pedals, they may actually be better than Indiana's current footing.
Remember, parting ways with Carlisle is just the first of Indiana's decisions this offseason, with the next hinging on the future of superstar forward Jermaine O'Neal. As frustrated players go, O'Neal ranked behind only Kevin Garnett this past season, forced to answer questions about the direction of a team clearly headed backward and his future on a sinking ship.
Bird reiterated that O'Neal would be traded if it was deemed in the Pacers' best interest. He even went as far as to say that the team's next coach will have to sign up with the full knowledge that the team he expects to have will be dragged out from under him.
Kind of what happened with Carlisle.
"It may not be anyone he likes," Bird said of who may be on the roster for the next coach, "but you've got to know that going in."
Sounds both promising and appealing. Line those candidates up.
