By Compiled from Times wires
Published June 1, 2003
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Rick Carlisle sat elbow to elbow with the man who had just fired him, Joe Dumars. In a bizarre scene, talk turned to Larry Brown, who will become the next Pistons coach.
"If you think he's going to bring in a stiff behind me, you're nuts," Carlisle said Saturday. "He's going to bring in a big-time guy, and if he can do that, he will have done his job."
Carlisle was fired with one year and $2-million left on his contract despite winning consecutive division titles, 100 regular-season games and Coach of the Year. He also led the Pistons to the East final for the first time since 1991.
He will be replaced by Brown, who already has reached an agreement on a long-term deal, the Associated Press reported.
Saturday's news conference was strange - Carlisle poking fun at himself during an opening statement, then initiating jokes and defending the decision when Dumars was pressed to explain the dismissal.
"The guy at the gate almost wouldn't let me into my own firing," Carlisle said.
When Dumars said, "This is not a fun day at all," Carlisle said: "It's all right. You can have fun with it."
On Monday, Brown resigned as the 76ers coach after six seasons. The team released him from a contractual clause that prohibited him from coaching another NBA team if he left Philadelphia prematurely.
Counting Detroit, there are eight coaching vacancies.
CAVALIERS: The team has offered Jeff Van Gundy its vacant coaching job, the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal reported.
Team owner Gordon Gund has agreed to give the former Knicks coach a five-year contract believed to be worth $25-million after negotiating with Van Gundy's agent.
Van Gundy is mulling the offer, waiting to see how the coaching search plays out in Houston, where he also is a candidate. Van Gundy said Thursday he is only 50 percent sure he'll coach next season.
76ERS: Portland coach Maurice Cheeks has received permission to speak to Philadelphia about its coaching vacancy, the Associated Press reported.
On Wednesday, the Trail Blazers turned down the Sixers' initial request to speak to Cheeks as a possible replacement for Brown. Portland reportedly changed its mind after Detroit fired Carlisle.
CLEVELAND 74, NEW YORK 50: Betty Lennox scored 14 to lead the host Rockers. They took control with a 32-5 run that started with 4:53 left in the first half and ended 5:18 into the second.
INDIANA 71, WASHINGTON 60: Tamika Catchings had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Niele Ivey scored a career-high 14 and Stephanie White added 13 for the host Fever.
CHARLOTTE 70, DETROIT 67: Rookie Teana McKiver scored 15 and fellow reserve Kelly Miller added 12 as the Sting spoiled the host Shock's season opener.
