Posts tagged ‘Brad Miller’

Donnie Walsh is leaving after this year. I realize he was looking at leaving the Pacers for a few years now but it seems to me he chose the worst time to leave. He was ana amazing GM and CEO that led the Pacers to 6 Eastern Conference Finals and the 2000 NBA Finals. He constantly revamped the lineup keeping the team competitive. He assembled one of the best and most loved roster in Pacers history with Mark Jackson, Reggie Miller, Derrick McKey, Antonio Davis, Dale Davis and Rik Smits. Also, he did a good job of working in young players like Al Harrington and Jalen Rose into the mix as the group aged. After the 2000 finals, he pulled a move that would again revitalize the franchise. A move the franchise is still relying on. He traded Dale Davis for Jermaine O’Neal, which in hindsight is an obvious benefit for the Pacers but at the time it wasn’t so clear. O’Neal was unproven at the time and Dale was loved by the people of Indiana. Walsh trusted his scouts and his ability to see talent (i.e. 1987 draft: Reggie Miller over Steve Alford) In 2002, Walsh again traded aging veterans for young talent and made it pay off when he got rid of Travis Best, Jalen Rose, Norm Richardson and a couple draft picks for Ron Artest, Brad Miller, Kevin Ollie and one other. This would be the start of the Pacers climb back up to the top of the Eastern Conference with a roster with Reggie Miller, Stephen Jackson, Ron Artest, Jermaine O’Neal and Brad Miller. They constantly challenged Detroit for the Beast of the East title. All-in-all Walsh was a great GM and CEO that had a knack of bringing in young talent and making it pay off in Ws. It is the end of another era for the Pacers leaving the franchise wide open to make a new legacy (good or bad) for itself.

Now enough of the nostalgia, the real question is whether this is good for the team. I would say an emphatic NO. The Simons left Larry Bird with all the player personnel power, which I do not think is a good idea because of his track record. He brought in Sarunus Jasikevicius and guaranteed him a three year deal and now where is he? Back in Europe where he should have been all along. You remember the play of James White?? Neither do I. Probably becaus he never starred for the Pacers even after Bird gave him a guaranteed two year deal for a 2nd round pick. Now he’s brought in Travis Diener to be the backup for Jamaal Tinsley. I have never really been a fan of Diener because he does not have the ability to score or defend consistently in the NBA. In my mind, those are three bad decisions solely on Bird’s shoulders. None of those give me confidence. If his best move as GM so far is bringing in Travis Diener, that’s not much to hang your hat on. Bird said he always had people doubting him when he played and the pressure hasn’t changed now, but I don’t think people questioned his decision making when he led the Celtics to multiple championships.

If it isn’t obvious yet, I would have prefered Walsh to stay and Bird to go. I realize shakeups needed to be done but I wish this was not what was going to be shook up. Bird has done nothing besides be “Larry Legend” during his time as team President. Just like M.J. and Isaiah, I don’t think Bird is cut out for being in the front office. Hopefully he proves me wrong and makes some moves in the off-season to help this team.