INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers insist Donnie Walsh has not agreed to oversee basketball operations for the New York Knicks after the season.
"Donnie said this morning there's nothing clear about his future," Pacers spokesman David Benner said Tuesday. "When there is he'll make a statement. He hasn't agreed to anything with anybody."
Walsh, the Pacers' chief executive and president since 1988, said Monday he would step aside after this season, but he would not comment on his future. The Pacers have turned over operation of the troubled franchise to Hall of Famer Larry Bird.
The Associated Press left a message with Walsh's office, but his secretary said he would not respond to the inquiries.
On Monday night, ESPN.com reported that Walsh will go to the Knicks. The website, citing an unidentified source, said he was expected to sign a three-year, $15 million contract with the Knicks at the end of this season.
What would happen to embattled Knicks coach and team president Isiah Thomas once Walsh joined the Knicks was not known, ESPN.com reported.
Knicks spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz told the AP the team would not comment on the report.
"As far as what I'm going to do, I'm not sure," the 67-year-old Walsh said at his news conference. "As a result, I'm not going to comment on it until I have a better idea."
In New York, Thomas wouldn't comment on speculation that Walsh could replace him, but praised his former boss with the Pacers.
"I don't comment on my job status and I'm sure not going to comment on anything that Donnie chooses to do or not do," Thomas said before the Knicks played Monday.
"He's had a great career, he's one of the best who's ever done it. I wish him great success and he's someone that I respect tremendously. He gave me my first coaching job and I truly do like him as a person and he's done a lot for the game."
Pacers co-owner Herb Simon said the announcement on Walsh's decision was made now rather than the end of the season because "everyone was getting confused."
"There were lots of rumors," he said. "Once I was convinced Donnie was really leaving, I thought it was best to let everyone else know."
