NBA Truth & Rumors: March 21, 2005

MORE TRUTH & RUMORS: NFL | MLB | NHL/SOCCER

With Don Nelson resigning over the weekend as Mavericks head coach, Pat Riley could emerge as a candidate to replace him in Dallas. -- New York Daily News

Though TV analyst and Lakers minority owner Magic Johnson would like Riley to return as L.A.'s coach, Riley said there is no chance that will happen and reiterated his desire to finish his career in Miami. -- Miami Herald

The agent for new Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson said he'll be able to be more specific in terms of what type of multiyear contract he's seeking for his client in about a week. Tony Dutt, Johnson's agent, is vacationing in Colorado. However, he said he would fly to Dallas this week if need be, but he doesn't expect to begin negotiating Johnson's contract with owner Mark Cuban until March 28. "We're going to look at a lot of things," Dutt said. "The nice thing is Mark has been more than fair, and he's a man of his word, and that's hard to find in this industry." -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram

They're already demanding in Orlando that the Magic hire Phil Jackson. Sorry, Magic, Phil doesn't need a job that badly. So it's the usual suspects for this summer: Flip Saunders, Maurice Cheeks, Eric Musselman (an assistant to Chuck Daly when he was Magic coach), with former NBA player Mark Jackson thrown in as the newest hot candidate from TV. And then there's the most obvious and natural choice, Scott Skiles. The Bulls coach remains the most popular player in Magic history. Magic insiders admit they erred when they had a chance to hire Skiles before the Bulls did and hesitated. The Magic has talented players, but its defense ranks among the league's poorest. And the record is starting to suggest nobody does defense better than Skiles. -- Chicago Tribune

There's rumblings within the Magic that they'll look for a starting point guard than who is bigger than Jameer Nelson this offseason. -- Orlando Sentinel

The Pacers, remarkably and without complaint, remain in the East playoff race despite playing almost every game without three or four starters. They've been an inspiration, including retiring Reggie Miller, who scored 39 against the Lakers on Friday. The Pacers are 5-3 since Jermaine O'Neal went out, and Miller has averaged more than 20 since then. "The next time any of us see a 39-year-old guy playing [shooting guard] and going for 39 points won't be in this lifetime," coach Rick Carlisle said. "If I were Reggie's agent, I'd try to sign him to a multiyear contract," Lakers coach Frank Hamblen said. "If you score your age in this league, I don't see why there's any reason to quit." Miller said his mind is made up about leaving. -- Chicago Tribune

Having paid his dues and worked for some of the top coaches in the business, no NBA GM -- including Wolves VP Kevin McHale -- should overlook Tom Thibodeau this summer when filling one of the many head coaching vacancies. That's the opinion held by Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, Thibodeau's boss for seven seasons in New York and Houston and, from the sound of it, his aspiring agent, too. -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

MORE TRUTH & RUMORS: NFL | MLB | NHL/SOCCER