In Indianapolis, Anthony Schoettle noted Pacers President Rick Fuson is "headed to Toronto next week to take a look at NBA All-Star Game operations," marking the "first outward sign the Pacers and perhaps the city have a serious interest in hosting" the event for the first time since '85. The ASG heads to Charlotte in '17, but the '18 event is "up for grabs." Fuson said that he will be "looking at all aspects of the operation, from the game and ancillary events such as the slam dunk and three-point contests, to events that happen in conjunction with the weekend, including parties and other red-carpet events" (IBJ.com, 2/3).
HISTORY LESSON: The Kings on Monday scrapped a giveaway that featured T-shirts with purple monkeys as part of a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration after Kings F DeMarcus Cousins said something. ESPN's Michael Smith said, "Who was in the meeting about this promotion?" ESPN's L.Z. Granderson: "We talk about black athletes today not being aware of what is going on in society and here's someone (Cousins) who took a look and said, 'Is it a good idea to have a monkey be on a T-shirt giveaway on the first day of Black History Month?'" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 2/2).
SUN SETTING? The Suns this week fired coach Jeff Hornacek, and in Phoenix, Dan Bickley wrote under the header, "Hot-Mess Phoenix Suns Need A Better Plan." The Suns are a "dumpster fire" after firing Hornacek." They are run by a GM in Ryan McDonough who is "either stripped of authority or in way over his head." Their owner, Robert Sarver, "says he wants a championship culture but won’t step out of the picture, like championship owners must" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/3). McDonough said, "I know the expectations and responsibilities that come along with this job. I know if we're not better over the next couple of years, I don't need to be put on notice. I know what will happen" (ESPN.com, 2/3).
BATTLE OF BULL RUN: In Chicago, Joe Cowley wrote the Bulls' "two-headed snake" of Exec VP/Basketball Operations John Paxson and GM Gar Forman was "eventually going to start devouring itself." Cowley: "Feeding time might have started." Forman "hasn't been pointing the finger at Paxson, he has been trying to wipe his own fingerprints off the mess." Forman "knows he can't win a power struggle against Paxson," as he is one of Chair Jerry Reinsdorf's "favorite sons" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/3).
