Pacers President Donnie Walsh "denied" Friday that CBA
Owner Isiah Thomas is using funds from a coaching contract
with the Pacers to pay a debt of about $750,000 to former
CBA owners, according to Phil Richards of the INDIANAPOLIS
STAR. Walsh: "There is no contract. ... We have not given
him any money." Meanwhile, the NBA on Friday "denied" a
report that it has granted Thomas a waiver from a
restriction requiring him to divest himself of his CBA
interest before taking a job in the NBA. NBA Dir of Sports
Media Services Seth Sylvan: "We have no idea of any waiver
or even a request for a waiver." Former Fury Managing
Partner Jay Frye said that certified checks to former CBA
owners "were supposed to be in the mail Friday." Frye:
"Isiah's people have told us on a couple of occasions that
his deal with the Pacers is done and signed and they're
going to use it to pay us off and sell the league to the
[NBPA]. I hope he gets a job so he can pay his bills."
Frye "plans to file a lawsuit against Thomas" if he is not
paid soon (INDY STAR, 7/15). Meanwhile, Thomas told Lacy
Banks of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES that his CBA debt "had been
settled." Thomas: "It was settled with my own money and not
from any loan or from any so-called future coaching salary.
Frye is a disgruntled former owner who is upset because he
could not help buy the league back from me. I am discussing
these scandalous statements with my attorneys" (7/16).
