| | Associated Press
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Chuck Daly, a member of the
Basketball Hall of Fame, joined the Vancouver Grizzlies' management
team Wednesday, along with former NBA coach Dick Versace and current Pacers executive Billy Knight.
Daly, a former coach with Detroit, New Jersey and Orlando, was
hired as a senior adviser in a surprise move.
"I will basically be a resource working mostly south of the
border, doing everything and anything necessary," said Daly, who has a career coaching record of 638-437 over 14 years. The 69-year-old resigned as Orlando coach a year ago.
Versace, a former TBS analyst and coach with the Indiana Pacers
who was an assistant under Daly at Detroit, becomes the Grizzlies'
president of basketball operations.
"I think there are some good pieces but I don't think there's
enough talent," he said of the team, noting he had seen almost
every game this season.
But Versace, described by a friend as an intellectual gym rat, exuded optimism. "I'm a half-full-glass guy," he said.
Knight, a former NBA All-Star in his second season
as senior vice president of the Indiana Pacers, was named general
manager.
New Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley put his stamp on the
franchise with the hirings. The Chicago multimillionaire called it the
beginning of an era.
The team still has to announce a coach.
Reported coaching candidates include Byron Scott, a former
Vancouver player who now is an assistant with the Sacramento Kings,
and Indiana assistant Rick Carlisle.
"The field is wide open," Versace said.
The trio of new executives will try to revive the fortunes of a team
that was just 22-60 this season and lost an estimated $20
million.
The Grizzlies never have come
close to making the playoffs since entering the NBA in 1995
and have had four 60-loss seasons. The Grizzlies have a five-year record of 78-300.
Recently, Heisley promised the team would win 25 to 30 games
next season and be a playoff team the following year.
"Together with the fans and the partners of the Vancouver
Grizzlies, we are going to build a winning tradition for this
franchise," Heisley said. "I will not accept anything else."
The team's housecleaning began Monday when coach Lionel Hollins and his assistants were fired. Hollins took over from Brian Hill after a 4-18 start this season.
Stu Jackson, the Grizzlies former president and GM, announced his resignation
Tuesday rather than wait to be fired. Jackson took a job in the NBA office.
Heisley was approved last month as Grizzlies owner by the NBA Board
of Governors.
A Chicago businessman who made millions turning
unsuccessful companies into profitable ventures, Heisley purchased the Grizzlies from Orca Bay Sports and Management for a reported $160 million.
"My track record for turning businesses around has been
well-documented and I intend to achieve the success again in
Vancouver with your support," Heisley said.
Information from SportsTicker was used in this report. | |
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