The Indiana Pacers are in the process of hiring Kevin Pritchard, the former general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers, reports Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star. Pritchard was fired just before the 2010 NBA Draft after four successful seasons in Portland.
Wells reports that team president Larry Bird and general manager David Morway will remain in place in Indiana's front office; Bird has toyed with retirement and is expected to step down in 2012. It's unclear, as such, how exactly Pritchard will fit in with Morway; Pritchard is considered a high-profile GM candidate, and it seems unlikely he'd take a lower-rung job like adviser or assistant GM without the expectation of a chance at getting the top spot. He'd been rumored as a potential target for the New York Knicks, whose Donnie Walsh recently resigned.
Pritchard became a controversial character during his time in Portland, with great moves (picking up LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy in the 2006 NBA Draft) mixed with unfortunate ones (Greg Oden over Kevin Durant in 2008). He also drew the ire of much of the league in 2009 after word leaked out that Darius Miles had tested positive for PEDs and was due a 10-game suspension from the league if any team signed him; the Blazers stood to gain $9 million in cap space if Miles sat out the entire season under conditions of his medical retirement from Portland.
The Pacers have a very important and intriguing offseason to handle once the NBA lockout ends, with good cap space and a grip of assets.
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