REPORT HAS THOMAS SELLING CBA TO NBPA; WILL HE JOIN PACERS?

          CBA Owner Isiah Thomas "will reach an agreement" today
     to sell the league to the NBPA, "which should clear up a
     major hurdle toward his being able to coach in the NBA,"
     according to a report by ESPN's David Aldridge (ESPN.com,
     6/27).  In Indianapolis, Mark Montieth reports that the
     Pacers reportedly are "waiting for Thomas to sell his
     minority stake" in the CBA, "a process that could be
     complicated by legal entanglements" (INDY STAR, 6/27).
          LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN? In Philadelphia, Stephen Smith
     notes that the NBA may require Thomas sell the CBA before
     becoming a coach, but the league is "wary" because NBPA Exec
     Dir Billy Hunter "confirmed recently that he had talked with
     Thomas about developing an alternative to the NBA should a
     lockout loom five years down the road."  Smith cites league
     sources who "confirmed" that the NBPA "talked with" News
     Corp. Chair Rupert Murdoch "and that the talks have been
     going on since" the lockout (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/27).