Laimbeer dark-horse candidate for Pistons' job
Posted: Wed February 4, 1998 at 11:54 AM ET
ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- Barring a complete turnaround by the Detroit Pistons, interim coach Alvin Gentry, who replaced the fired Doug Collins on Monday, probably won't get serious consideration for the permanent job.
The Pistons plan to contact at least two high-profile candidates, Phil Jackson of the Chicago Bulls and George Karl of the Seattle SuperSonics, both of whom have contracts that expire at the end of this season.
But sources tell me there's a dark-horse candidate: former Pistons center Bill Laimbeer.
Although he has no coaching experience, Laimbeer has talked with team president Tom Wilson, and the Pistons think he may be able to duplicate the success of another ex-player with no coaching experience -- the Indiana Pacers' Larry Bird.
Heat still hot for Richmond
The Miami Heat refuses to give up its pursuit of Sacramento guard Mitch Richmond.
The trade now being discussed has Miami sending center Isaac Austin to Phoenix for point guard Steve Nash, then trading a package of players including Nash to Sacramento for Richmond.
The deal would make sense for all three teams. The Suns would get the center they badly need, the Kings' problems at the point would be solved, and Richmond is the shooting guard Miami coach Pat Riley wants to match against Michael Jordan if the Heat meets Chicago in the playoffs.
The deal could hinge on Austin, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. The Suns won't go through with the trade unless Austin indicates a willingness to re-sign with them.
Walker may follow Stoudamire out door
If the Toronto Raptors trade point guard Damon Stoudamire, coach Darrell Walker
could follow him out the door.
Walker was ready to resign two weeks ago when it appeared that Stoudamire had been traded to Houston. The Raptors were even planning a press conference to announce the trade and the resignation at the same time.
But the deal fell through at the last moment and Walker stayed.
One reason why Walker is willing to leave the Raptors may be that his friend Isiah Thomas, the ex-Raptors general manager who hired him, is a candidate to take over as GM of the Denver Nuggets. If that happens, Walker could find himself coaching in Denver next season.
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