http://www.indystar.com/article/20120626/SPORTS04/120625056 Should the Rockets try to re-unite McHale and Bird in Houston? If so in what role? Would Bird be interested in coaching/player development? Assistant GM/scout? Assistant coach? Some kind of recruiting role? Do you think the Rockets would be interested? Would Bird be interested? So many questions!
Larry Bird is the Dwight Howard of NBA execs. Change his mind several times, got his GM fired, now leaving again.
Word is, Bird needs major back surgery and the doctors have basically told him the recovery time would be many months, not weeks, and during the recovery there would be no travel and essentially 100% rest. All the flip-flopping was based upon hunting out differing opinions, but he basically got the same answer from many places. He will not be working in the NBA this year. Still the timing is odd and awful, 2 days before the draft and 5 days before free agency. Donnie Walsh is old and not a permanent solution, obviously. Pacer fans like myself are hoping that this is essentially one-year sabbatical, though the pessimist among us think it indicates a rift between Bird and ownership over the idea of spending the money Bird feels is necessary to win now.
Excellent player, terrific coach that was super underrated, and great president/GM. If he leaves the Pacers I can't see him going anywhere else since he pretty much hand re-crafted that team. Probably the greatest player/mind in basketball. A guru indeed.
I think Larry Bird did a great job when he was in Pacers. I am wondering that which team will want him next.
