Just minutes after the Pacers had been knocked out of the NBA Finals by the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6, Bird was asked what he's going to do with the rest of his life now that he's officially retired from coaching.

"I probably won't be happy again," Bird said. "I'll probably be miserable the rest of my life to tell you the truth."

It would have required a crane to remove Bird's tongue from his cheek, but he was hardly happy Monday night. Sure, he was proud of his Pacers for making it to the Finals, and taking the Lakers to task in the Staples Center before falling 116-111.

But very real questions surrounding the future of the Pacers abound, including Bird, who said he will decide perhaps as early as tomorrow whether he will move into the Pacers front office or retire to his home in Naples, Fla.

President Donnie Walsh confirmed assistant Rick Carlisle, Isiah Thomas and Byron Scott are his three candidates to replace Bird, with Carlisle and Thomas the most likely choices. If Walsh prefers Thomas, as has been reported, Bird will retire. But if it's important for Walsh to keep Bird, then Carlisle likely will be the coach.

Then there is the little matter of free agents Reggie Miller, Jalen Rose, Austin Croshere, Sam Perkins, Mark Jackson and Rik Smits. He will speak to owners Mel and Herb Simon about his coaching candidates and the free agents.

"I want to re-sign all of them," Walsh said. "I don't know yet (about the new coach). The last two coaches -- Larry Brown and Larry Bird -- will be a tough act to follow. I don't know any more Larrys."

The key will be the players. Miller sat in the press conference, a little forlorn from the loss and befuddled with the future.

"As for next year, we don't know what's up," Miller said. "We don't know anything. The coach, it's all up in the air. You never know with free agency, nowadays."

Miller, Perkins and Smits are in their mid 30s, with the latter two possibly retiring. Miller wants a long-term extension at the maximum of $14 million a year to start. But the key to the future belongs in the hands of Rose and Croshere.

"Just going through all of this with these guys makes me want to continue with this franchise," Rose said. "It's meant a lot to me with these guys and the way we've developed as a team. I hope we can all come back and get this done. We just don't know who the new coach will be and what he has in mind."

Larry Bird yells instructions to the Pacers during Game 6 against the Lakers.(AP)

Croshere, too, said it was his desire to return to the Pacers, with a good contract offer and more playing time on the docket for him.

"I think I've earned the money and the playing time," Croshere said. "I want to come back here and do it, but it's hard to tell what's going to happen."

Essentially, we're looking at a jump ball with the future of the Pacers. Walsh has been president since 1986, and even through reports that Thomas was about to be named coach, there would be no confirmation. Even Carlisle conceded how rough this has been.

"It's been difficult all year," Carlisle said. "We've just tried to remain focused on the games. But it has been a distraction."

Now the games are over and the transition begins. In Indianapolis, the game remains the same, "Gentlemen, start your engines."

The crying game

MVP Shaquille O'Neal, with nicknames galore throughout the season and the playoffs, topped off as the "Big Champion," had really big tears, too, as the Lakers celebrated on the Staples Center floor after the game.

After years of not winning, suffering the wrath of nobody loves Goliath, the 7-1, 330-pound center finally let it all fly.

"I've held emotion now for about 11 years," O'Neal said. "Three years of college, eight years in the league ... always wanting to win. You just came out; it came out. I'm happy for (coach) Phil (Jackson). I'm happy for my teammates. I'm happy for the city. It's just a great moment."

That it was. All it required, evidently, was winning the "Big Enchilada."

Rice wants to return

Amazing how emotion changes the tune of players.

All season, it appeared a lock that Glen Rice would leave after this season.

He wanted the maximum free-agent salary of $14 million, now he knows that isn't possible.

He didn't like being a third wheel to O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, which now is the only way they won the title.

And even his wife Christina complained to the media about how few shots he was getting in the Finals, and how he could make a difference.

"I'll tell you, I've had a great time here," Rice said. "We won the NBA Championship and I tell everyone that I'd like to get greedy and win two or three more. This is where it's going to be. This team definitely has the coach and the talent to repeat. If the opportunity presents itself, I'd love to be back."

That's a big if. A sign and trade with Philadelphia for Toni Kukoc continues to be discussed and could be the most likely scenario, so Rice had better savor that ring.

Shots from the perimeter

• O'Neal now has 2,469 points in the playoffs, and he moved up 25 spots on the list into 22nd place this season. He led the playoffs in both scoring and rebounding.
• Miller added to his record for 3-point field goals in the playoffs, he now has 243. He is second in attempts (599) to Scottie Pippen at 623.
• Phil Jackson's 126 playoff coaching victories is second all time to Pat Riley's 155. But Jackson has lost just 49 compared to Riley's 97.
• The NBA Draft is June 28.