Source: Larry Bird Definitely Not Returning
Larry Bird’s head-faking, bed-unmaking, Dwight Howard imitating stretch as Pacers president is coming to a conclusion at season’s end regardless of how the 26-18 team finishes, maintains someone very much in the know.
“He has definitely decided not to return,” the source asserted.
Hired six seasons ago as Donnie Walsh’s eventual replacement, Bird was paid $5 million per for the first five. It appeared he was about to retire to his home in Naples, Fla., after last season. However, a strong finish, topped by a promising first round playoff showing against the Bulls, and an appeal from owner Herb Simon to stick around convinced him otherwise, in spite of having his salary slashed to $1 million.
A handshake promise was given Simon last summer by Bird that he would consider re-upping for another season, but that has been ruled out. It’s believed Simon is aware of such and has a petite list of prospective replacement candidates.
via Peter Vecsey of the New York Post
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