http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3309745

Source: Walsh will leave Indy after season to work for NYK
Updated: March 24, 2008, 11:17 PM ET

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Pacers chief executive Donnie Walsh will leave the team after this season and a source told ESPN late Monday that he will land with the New York Knicks.

Walsh is expected to sign a three-year, $15 million contract with New York at the end of this season to oversee their basketball operations division. The source did not know what would become of current Knicks president of basketball operations and head coach Isiah Thomas once Walsh joined the Knicks.

Walsh only said Monday he will finish the season with Indiana and will not comment on his plans. Pacers team president Larry Bird will take over many of Walsh's duties.

"I'm completing what was my dream job," the 67-year-old Walsh said at a news conference on Monday afternoon. "I have loved every single moment of this job, including the last few years when things have been more difficult."

It was reported last week that Walsh had discussions with the Knicks about possibly replacing Thomas as team president.

"As far as what I'm going to do, I'm not sure," Walsh said. "As a result, I'm not going to comment on it until I have a better idea."

Reached Monday, Knicks spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz said the Knicks would not comment on Walsh's departure. Walsh's agent, Steve Kaufman, said he would not comment on his client's employment status until after the NBA season.

In New York, Thomas wouldn't comment on speculation that Walsh could replace him, but he praised his former boss with the Pacers.

"He's had a great career, he's one of the best who's ever done it," Thomas said before the Knicks lost to New Jersey to fall to 19-51 on the season. "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."

Walsh said Monday at team headquarters the time is right to go and he has enjoyed his 24 years with the club. That includes the past few years, when the team has dealt with a series of legal problems involving players.

Walsh said the announcement should not come as a surprise, since he has said previously this would be his last season.

Walsh, who joined the Pacers as an assistant coach in 1984, became general manager in 1986 and president two years later. He hired Bird as coach in 1997, and after Bird moved into the front office three years later, Walsh groomed him as his eventual successor.

As president of basketball operations, Bird has shared many of the day-to-day operations with Walsh in recent years, a division of authority that has often led to confusion in dealing with other teams, Walsh said.

"My real reason is, I think I've been here too long," he said. "It's not healthy for the franchise.

"I started thinking that the last two or three years. But you also want to see things get better," he said.

Earlier this month, Pacers co-owner Herb Simon made it clear that there would be some sort of upheaval within the organization by season's end, saying "everything but the owner" would be addressed.

The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals six times and won the Central Division four times under Walsh. They made the NBA Finals in 2000, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, and had the league's best record in 2004 before the franchise began unraveling.

"It was a joy to spend time in Indiana under his leadership. Great man and a great basketball mind," said Mark Jackson, who played on the Pacers' finals team. "Sad to see, being a member of the Pacers and knowing what he means to that organization and that community, but at the same time I wish him nothing but the very best because like I said, he's a great man and a great basketball mind. He's the best in the business."

Starting with the brawl involving Indiana players and Detroit Pistons fans, the past three seasons have been littered with losing records, personnel changes and off-court issues that have damaged the team's once-shiny reputation.

Former Pacer Stephen Jackson pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness for firing gunshots in the air during a 2006 fight at a strip club; this year, Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley and several companions were targeted in a shooting that wounded the team's equipment manager outside a downtown hotel. And Tinsley and Marquis Daniels recently cut a deal with prosecutors to avoid trial on charges in a separate fight at a nightclub.

Recently, a murder suspect was arrested after he had been at the home of Pacers forward Shawne Williams and a rape was reported at another player's home. Neither player was charged.

This season, Indiana has the NBA's worst attendance, and despite a current four-game winning streak, the Pacers (29-41) are still a game and a half behind Atlanta for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

"Everyone was getting confused," Simon said of the reason for announcing Walsh's decision now, rather than the end of the season. "There were lots of rumors. Once I was convinced Donnie was really leaving, I thought it was best to let everyone else know."

Walsh mentioned the possibility of retirement several times last season, when the Pacers went 35-47 and missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

"I really don't think this should come as a surprise," he said. "I said this would be my last year, and now I'm completing what has been my dream job."

And now it's Bird's.

"Now it's one voice; it's mine," Bird said. "Pressure is pressure. I've dealt with it in the past, and I'm looking forward to it."

I have a different view of the situation. I think it is entirely plausible that Dolan hired Walsh so that he could keep IT. Walsh was not the one who fired IT in Indy, it was Bird, and Walsh gave IT his first coaching job. So I would have to believe that Walsh has some level of confidence that IT is at least a decent coach. Given that Dolan owes IT $24 million, I can really see Dolan saying that he wants to give IT one more year to try and right this ship as the coach, and have Walsh come in and take over the GM duties. It is sad but I think it is a real possibility. My primary concern is getting a GM in here who can make some smart trades. We have a frontcourt that is built for a half-court game and a backcourt built for running. The two don't match and we need someone to make a firm decision as to the direction of this team.



[Edited by - thegame on 25-03-2008 08:14]

Posted by blueNorange:

the only way i see Isiah staying is as his right hand man.

Isiah isn't even worthy of touching Walsh's right hand.

I love the move, but removing Isiah from the picture for a moment, I 'm concerned as to whether the MSG experience will corrupt or compromise his b-ball acumen. He's going to have to wade through deep layers of dysfunction as this is an organization that seems to value the frivolous over the professional and even the successful. Plus with Knick fans having to endure almost a decades worth of horrible basketball, how patient will he be? Will he make moves with the best interest of the organization at heart, or will he try to hit a eight-run homer out of the gate, which is what led to Zeke's downfall. It will be interesting.

Dolan buys time

Donnie assumes the title of President of Basketball Ops

Mark Jackson receives an interview

Isiah beomes middle management

Dolan isn't paying Isiah all that extra cheese to simply go on a nice vacation. Speaking of chedda, don't be surprised if Larry Brown, another tarheel, is back in the conversation, with Donnie serving as mediator.

Zeke will become a glorified scout, or chart deflections.

The agenda isn't all that hidden solace. The relationships are fairly obvious to anyone with a sense of history.

Dolan desperately seeks to be perceived as having a clue and owes Zeke a ton of chedda. Ergo - hiring Walsh solves two immediate issues at once and opens the door to making gradual change instead of a palace revolution.

Larry Brown receives a courtesy phone call from 2 Penn Plaza with Donnie playing the role of mediator. Mark Jackson, a favored Knicks son of the city, is interviewed for head coach. Phil Ford gets another shot as an assistant.

The Knicks modify the team colors to include Carolina Blue instead of orange.

Tyler Hansbrough is on deck.

does anyone even really know the terms of Isiah's contract?

could it be possible all of it wasn't guaranteed and this years record will in itself terminate his contract