Even though they had the best record in the NBA, Pacers coach Rick Carslisle off the heels of a disappointing Conference Finals exit says next year will give us a brand new Pacers team.
"Right now, I don't think this team will be back in its exact form next year," Carlisle said Thursday. "There will be some changes, either through free agency and the draft or the possibility of trades. There's going to be some things that are going to be different."
Carlisle said he may be consulted personnel decisions, but ultimately it's up to team president Larry Bird and CEO Donnie Walsh.
"If there is the opportunity for him to be a starter here, that would be great," Carlisle said of Harrington. "And if there isn't, then it may be time for him to move on to another team. Those are decisions that are going to be made by Larry and Donnie."
Bird and Walsh met with players individually on Wednesday to discuss their situations with the team.
"This has been kind of an unbalanced roster," Carlisle said. "There's a glut of guys at the small forward spot and there haven't been a lot of minutes."
Apparently everyone is bracing for and expecting the changes.
"It's a strange world in professional sports," O'Neal said. "Teams make changes. I've learned to handle what I can handle and that's just basketball. I'm going to let Larry and Donnie and our owners handle the movement part."
Carlisle seems to be the most expectant.
"We're going to be very proactive with really attacking this summer to get ourselves as ready as we possibly can for next October," Carlisle said. "That's where our next opportunity begins, officially."