Under former coach Larry Bird, the Indiana Pacers were making the transition from Reggie Miller as their franchise player to Jalen Rose.

But now in the second season of coach Isiah Thomas' tenure, Rose is dealing with a dramatically reduced role.

Bob Young of the Arizona Republic reports that as Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender get increased roles at the epense of Rose, the rumors increase as well.

Pacers president Donnie Walsh has flatly denied that the club is making any attempt to move Rose.

"Jalen is not on the trading block," Walsh recently told reporters in Indianapolis. "He never has been. That's as simple as I can say it."

Young also notes the decreased roles of reserves Travis Best and Austin Croshere.

"A lot of times, players forget how they got here," Thomas told reporters in Indiana. "When you get here, there's a tendency to say: 'OK, I've arrived.'

"You can't stop progress. We have aspirations of being a championship team. Not everyone can become a championship player. Everybody can't take that ride. Some people may get left behind."

Maybe Thomas is just trying to motivate Rose to get on board. Or maybe the train has already left the station.