I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

[Peck]

http://blogs.indystar.com/pacersinsider/2012/06/22/pacers-a-return-of-donnie-walsh/

Pacers: A return of Donnie Walsh?

There’s a possibility that former CEO Donnie Walsh will return to the franchise in some capacity, multiple sources told The Star.

It’s uncertain what role Walsh will play with the franchise.

That question should be answered next week when team owner Herb Simon returns to Indianapolis for meetings to help clear up the team’s murky front office situation.

Larry Bird talked like he wants to remain as president during his season-ending press conference last month as long as his meeting with Simon went well.

Bird wants Kevin Pritchard, the team’s director of player personnel, to be his new general manager.

David Morway, who was the team’s general manager, hasn’t been around the team in more than two weeks.

Walsh has attended some of the Pacers predraft workouts at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, according to sources.

Simon has always respected Walsh, who spent 24 years with the Pacers and was running the team during its run to the NBA Finals in 2000.

Walsh, 71, left the Pacers in the spring of 2008 to become president of basketball operations of the New York Knicks. He got the Knicks in the financial position to make a run at big-name free agents in the summer of 2010.

Walsh sat out last season, but it was no secret that the self-proclaimed workaholic, would return to the NBA at some point as long as he was healthy.

Are you in favor of Walsh returning to the Pacers?

================================================== ===========
I have had this nagging feeling since the entire Pritchard/Morway thing went down that something was going to happen. When the meeting between Walsh & Bird got moved back a week I really started to have doubts.

Now the star is reporting this?

Um, no thank you.

I've been somewhat of a Morway supporter over the years because I am still in awe of his giant trade exemption he got for Peja and because I kind of knew how he felt about Satan as our coach, but honestly if the price for keeping him is losing both Bird/Pritchard and the return of Ole Buggeyes? Well David it's been nice having you on the team.

The last thing I want to hear right now is a lecture about how we need to build this team over the next few seasons. We are not near a title contender but we are not a scrub team either. The time to strike is now, not another 3 year plan. We need to use the space we have to make bold moves to get over the top.

I trust Bird to do that, frankly I also trust Morway to do that.

I do NOT trust Walsh to do that.

If we are just bringing him back and still having Bird here I ask, why? The franchise is money poor and we are very top heavy as it is.

Can not say that I was thrilled to read this.

[vnzla81]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

Dale Davis?

[able]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

Considering that earlier articles said that Morway was a Simon favourite (and that he was mostly in the seat next to Simon when he was in Indy) this may be his way(Simon) of keeping tabs on Bird, if Morway is worked out the way it is happening and simon is less than thrilled with that, pulling in Donnie to "keep an eye on things" would not be a weird decision, they go back a lot further than current management and no matter what some of you tihnk or say as a NBA CEO DW has been very successfull as has his stint with NY proven if that was ever in need of proof.

I would not be surprised it would be Simon's answer to Bird's strategy.

[presto123]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

Just retire already.

[Chuck Chillout]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

Dale Davis?

Just as possible this is part of a continuity plan. Walsh was here to transition Bird into his current role before leaving for the Knicks; as Bird exits over the next year or three, Walsh could be in place to take over leadership from Bird.

Some of Walsh's moves in the early'00's left a bad taste, but of the two, Walsh is the one with the track record of building a team that made it to the Finals. Pilfering Jackson and Rose are just 2 examples. After the Finals run, Walsh was still making bold moves, like vnzla mentioned, to set up another run at the title.

I agree this is the time to push our chips to the middle of the table and make "the" move, or moves. Bird's done a helluva job rebuilding, but we're going to have to be really savvy to be competitive with the Heat, Thunder, and Bulls, because we're not in their class right now. Walsh, even with his past missteps, is a really savvy exec.

[iogyhufi]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

Just as possible this is part of a continuity plan. Walsh was here to transition Bird into his current role before leaving for the Knicks; as Bird exits over the next year or three, Walsh could be in place to take over leadership from Bird.

Some of Walsh's moves in the early'00's left a bad taste, but of the two, Walsh is the one with the track record of building a team that made it to the Finals. Pilfering Jackson and Rose are just 2 examples. After the Finals run, Walsh was still making bold moves, like vnzla mentioned, to set up another run at the title.

I agree this is the time to push our chips to the middle of the table and make "the" move, or moves. Bird's done a helluva job rebuilding, but we're going to have to be really savvy to be competitive with the Heat, Thunder, and Bulls, because we're not in their class right now. Walsh, even with his past missteps, is a really savvy exec.

I have no clue why the Pacers would do that. I mean, Walsh is older than James Naismith. He's gonna be on his way out of the league soon. I would bet that if Walsh comes back, the plan is to give Pritchard another exec to learn from. Because Walsh isn't the long term solution.

[Roaming Gnome]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

F*%k

[rm1369]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

I don't particularly want DW back, but I'm curious as to why anyone would have confidence that Bird will make a "bold move?" He has built this team as conservatively as possible and has already said they won't be going after any top free agents. I have less confidence in a "bold move" from Bird than DW. DW was certainly conservative as well, but there are a few transactions you can point to with him. I can't think of any with Bird. Maybe having Pritchard as part of the equation ups the chance with Bird here? Regardless, however it shakes out, I definitely don't want both of them here. The combination of the two equated to a rudderless ship and nearly destroyed the franchise.

[bballpacen]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

If DW is back in any capacity more than adviser, then I am 100% against this move, if he is back as an adviser, then I am 50% against it...

[Sparhawk]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

Hey Walsh, retired already.

[Chuck Chillout]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

He's 71. Jerry West is 74 and Pat Riley is 67- 71 isn't an obstacle in a leadership role. You'd certainly expect he wouldn't be doing the same work as a Pritchard or even a Morway, but for someone to set direction and strategy for the franchise, you could do much, much worse than Walsh. I'd be glad to see him back in some role.

[xBulletproof]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

Considering that earlier articles said that Morway was a Simon favourite (and that he was mostly in the seat next to Simon when he was in Indy) this may be his way(Simon) of keeping tabs on Bird, if Morway is worked out the way it is happening and simon is less than thrilled with that, pulling in Donnie to "keep an eye on things" would not be a weird decision, they go back a lot further than current management and no matter what some of you tihnk or say as a NBA CEO DW has been very successfull as has his stint with NY proven if that was ever in need of proof.

I would not be surprised it would be Simon's answer to Bird's strategy.

Is there anything you couldn't interject your Bird hate into? The Executive of the Year needs a babysitter, really? I severely doubt Bird is the sneaky kind of person that needs something like that. If Simon wants to know something, he could probably ... I don't know .... call and ask.

Besides that as someone who's been over several people at a job, if I felt I needed to hire a babysitter, I wouldn't have that person working for me. Pretty simple.

[imawhat]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

Worst Pacers news since?

[Pacers13Colts12]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

Sometimes I think Simon would rather the team just be a playoff team than ever make a move for a championship.

[Granville]

Re: I've got a really bad feeling about this (Walsh may be back to the Pacer per todays star)

This doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me. Walsh still lives in Indy, has a relationship with Bird and Simon, and isn't ready to retire. I'm guessing it is simply as an advisor, which can't hurt. Bird knows he's been at some of the workouts. If he was there because he was becoming president again, or because he was taking some of Bird's powers, I'm sure Bird would have already quit (or taken the rumored Orlando offer).