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On the way out? Jones not happy in Charlotte; Nelson posturing in Dallas
Posted: Tuesday January 11, 2000 03:28 AM
NBA insider Stephen A. Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer spoke with CNN Sports Illustrated's Larry Smith and Inga Hammond about the goings-on in the league Sunday night on This Week in the NBA: Inga Hammond: Eddie Jones will hopefully be back in uniform Monday against Milwaukee. He's in the last year of his contract, he loves playing for Paul Silas, yet we're hearing rumblings that he might not stay in Charlotte. What's up with that? Stephen A. Smith: I've had several sources tell me that Jones is really not happy in Charlotte. He's not miserable or anything like that, he loves coach Paul Silas, he loves his teammates, but he just feels that Charlotte is not the greatest situation for him. He is looking to move, preferably to the Miami Heat and Pat Riley. That is what I'm hearing and certainly that would be a good fit and that would explain why talk of Glen Rice landing in Miami has somewhat died down over the last couple of weeks. Inga Hammond: Despite leading the league in scoring, averaging more than 30 points per game, Allen Iverson was left off of the 2000 Olympic roster when the final three players were announced this week. You cover the 76ers on a daily basis, Stephen, what is Iverson's take on the Olympic team snub issue? How much of a role did image play? You've got Steve Smith of the Trail Blazers on the roster, he's kind of a boy scout. Stephen A. Smith: Well, Iverson understands. He feels that image was a part of it, but he understands that wasn't the only thing that played a part in his getting snubbed. He accepts the fact that his day will come sometime in the future and to his credit he's left it at that and left the rest of us to speculate about it. Everyone is pointing to the 1994 world championship team and some of their problems -- out all night partying and coming late to practices, arguing with their coach, not wanting to sit on the bench. These are all problems that Iverson has had with Larry Brown in the past and Brown is an assistant on this basketball team. It's no accident and it's more than just a mere coincidence that Iverson's not on this team. Larry Smith: The Kings have been a royal flush on defense, third worst in the league. Stephen, you look at the Kings bench and you see Pete Carril, the former Princeton coach, as an assistant. How does he keep from pulling his hair out? Stephen A. Smith: Well, he keeps from pulling his hair out, Larry, because he is watching a very, very talented squad that comes every night to play the game of basketball. But at the same time look at this team: including Sunday night's game, the Sacramento Kings have given up more than 100 points in 13 of their last 15 games. It's real fun to watch these guys in the regular season, but when it comes to playoff time, you've got to play defense to win ballgames and ultimately get to the championship round. And that is why the Kings won't be there come June. Larry Smith: Don Nelson said this week that he doesn't want to coach the Mavericks after this year and that son Donnie would replace him as was the plan at one time. The Mavs were sold this week to internet wizard Mark Cuban. How do things stand in "Big D" right now? Stephen A. Smith: Well, if you're the new owner, you should be very pleased with how things stand, considering that Don Nelson is talking about leaving. The bottom line is Dallas has not been a very good team, especially since Nelson has taken over, and he had no business whatsoever saying that his son was ultimately going to take over for him once he left. Now, what a lot of people around the league have told me is they feel what he is trying to do is cover himself by saying he will step down at the end of this season and take over general manager duties. He's trying to avoid being fired, it really comes down to that. Larry Smith: Nelson wants to remain as GM but look at what he has done in three years: He drafted midguided teen Leon Smith, he gave millions to an aging "Hot Rod" Williams, whose bad back has now forced him to retire. He traded away Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn and traded for Shawn Bradley, none of these exactly championship moves. Stephen A. Smith: And you left out some key stats there Larry. Add the fact that he was 83-137 in his last four seasons of coaching entering this year. Add the fact that he's 35-81 in his two seasons in Dallas entering this year. And what do you have? You have perpetual mediocrity. Bottom line is something needs to be done, he recognizes it because he knows that he's in danger of losing his job and he's trying to cover himself.
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