Carlisle Officially Done with Pacers

by Tom Lewis on Jun 12, 2007 4:23 PM EDT in Indiana Pacers News

Best of luck to Rick Carlisle in his future endeavors. The Pacers and Carlisle officially parted ways today by announcing Carlisle will not return to the front office as the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.

"I met with both Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh last Friday and expressed my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to come back next year in a front office capacity, but felt it was better for both the Pacers and myself to part ways at this time," he said in the e-mail. "Jim O'Brien and Dick Harter are great basketball men who I respect and have worked with before, and they will do an outstanding job with this team going forward."

This is the only way to go for both parties. As I've said before, you can't completely change the culture around the team if the old coach is still hanging around. As for Carlisle, he can move on to other opportunities. He's under consideration for the Sonics job and if that job doesn't come through he can always parlay his successful stint as an ESPN analyst into a full time gig.

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That's not a bad thing is it?

Does this mean Carlisle will go to the Sonics officially now? Personally I think until Carlisle learns how to relate to his players somewhat better his act will run thin. Maybe too it will mean the Sonics sell his players. On the other hand I haven't heard him anaylze a game yet. He seems qualified to do that though and I'm hoping he takes a year away to do so. Maybe he won't but I think he is his generation's Doug Collins without being whacked by a Michael Jordan type.

When the tough get going the going gets Cornrows.

by pookeyguru on Jun 13, 2007 4:50 AM EDT reply actions

The Supes could do worse

Great comparison of Carlisle to Doug Collins. Circumstances beyond his control definitely played a big part in his firing, but he didn't help himself either.

by Tom Lewis on Jun 13, 2007 6:20 AM EDT up reply actions