Phil Jackson will be introduced as the new coach of the
Lakers today at a news conference in Beverly Hills, and in
L.A., Tim Kawakami reports that the five-year deal is worth
"about" $30M, "far more than the Lakers have ever paid a
coach." Among other NBA coaches, Jackson's $6M salary "puts
him below" only Celtics President & coach Rick Pitino, who
reportedly makes $7M a year, and "possibly" Heat President &
coach Pat Riley, "whose salary and other benefits push his
yearly compensation to" $8M or more. But both Pitino and
Riley also "hold executive titles" (L.A. TIMES, 6/16). Also
in L.A., Howard Beck reports that at $6-7M per season,
Jackson "easily becomes the highest paid coach in franchise
history." His pay now "far eclipses" that of Exec VP Jerry
West, who will make $3.5M. While Lakers Owner Jerry Buss
"has historically opted" for less-expensive coaches, he saw
the "need to create excitement to fill" the 20,000-seat
Staples Center opening this fall (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 6/16). In
N.Y., Mike Wise writes that Buss is considered "frugal," and
his "loosening of the Lakers' purse strings represented a
major shift in management style" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/16).
NBA TEAM NOTES: The Pistons formally named Joe Dumars as
VP/Player Personnel, and in Detroit, Bob Wojnowski writes
that the Pistons organization "desperately needs credibility
at the highest level, and Dumars is the perfect man to
provide it" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/16). Also in Detroit, Drew
Sharp writes under the header, "Is Dumars' Job Real Or Just
Another Ploy?" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/16)....MSG will air a
live telecast of Game One on its main screen in the arena.
Tickets are $15 each, and proceeds from the sales will go to
the Red Holzman Knicks Kids Foundation (N.Y. TIMES, 6/16).
