Outgoing Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird today confirmed he will "remain with the organization for another year in a scouting role, but emphasized that he doesn't want to impede" the progress of successor Kevin Pritchard, according to Matthew VanTryon of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Bird "shied away" from talking about F Paul George's future with the team, though he did note he and Pritchard talked to George last week "during an exit interview" (INDYSTAR.com, 5/1). Bird in a team release noted he is not leaving his position due to his health or the team, claiming there were other things he wanted to do now that he is 60 years old (Pacers). In Indianapolis, Nate Taylor reported Bird's departure is the "first major move in a pivotal offseason for the franchise." Bird now will "no longer be tasked with determining the franchise’s future," much of which "depends upon" George's status. If George is "elected by media members to one of the three All-NBA teams, the Pacers can offer him a contract that is a year longer and worth about $75 million more than other teams could offer." However, sources said that some in the franchise "are unsure whether the Pacers would be willing to sign George to such a lucrative deal to keep him." Taylor noted Bird several times during the season indicated that he "wanted to re-sign George to a max contract," and Bird was "unwilling to trade George before the NBA’s trade deadline in February" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/29). THE VERTICAL's Adrian Wojnarowski, who first broke the news Friday afternoon, wrote Bird "leaves the franchise at a crucial crossroads." The Pacers "will have to decide on whether to continue to work on selling George on a future with the franchise, or consider the possibility of trading him to extract maximum value before George can leave in free agency" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/28).
NO LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL: In Boston, Gary Washburn noted Bird "wasn't able to gather the necessary pieces for another run," and he "appeared discouraged about the future" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/30). ESPN's Brian Windhorst said he did not think Bird "wanted to have to trade Paul George, because Larry Bird is not a guy who waves the white flag" ("The Jump," ESPN, 4/28). ESPN's Dan Le Batard said now "is a good time" for Bird to leave, as he has set the Pacers up as a playoff team. Le Batard: "If Paul George leaves, it's not going to be that" ("Highly Questionable," ESPN, 4/28). But in Indianapolis, Gregg Doyel wrote Bird stepping down "feels like a retreat, like a surrender." Bird has "admitted defeat" after the last few years "have been hard" on him. He has "seen most of his big decisions fail and then learned the hard way ... that he didn't have ultimate say over the future of his own franchise" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/29). The Washington Post's Kevin Blackistone said, "I'm wondering if he's walking away or if he was encouraged to walk away." Meanwhile, the Boston Globe's Bob Ryan said he does not see Bird as a "lifer in any basketball capacity" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 4/28).
DIG YOUR ROOTS: In Indianapolis, Anthony Schoettle noted the Pacers revealed a new logo on their All-Star Game IndyCar that features a "yellow streaking basketball inside a modular, stylized blue state of Indiana with a white star at Indianapolis." However, the Pacers "are not replacing either of their two primary logos." Pacers Senior VP and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Todd Taylor: "This is a new alternative logo. It will be used when we do something statewide and with apparel." Pacers officials "designed the logo -- in conjunction with the NBA -- to kick off the team's 51st year" (IBJ.com, 4/28).
