Fieldhouse Files: Scott Agness on the Indiana Pacers

Kevin Pritchard was officially promoted to President of Basketball Operations of the Indiana Pacers Monday. The move was made after Larry Bird decided to slide into a part-time advisory role.

“I want to thank Herb, Larry and Donnie (Walsh) for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Pritchard, who had been the team’s general manager since 2012. “As someone who grew up in Indiana, I’ve always felt the Pacers’ pride. The goal is always going to be the same as it has been through Donnie and Larry: to make this a world-class organization.”

[Get to know Pacers executive Kevin Pritchard]

“I’m very happy Kevin is stepping in and glad another Hoosier is in line to take over this job,” Bird said. “He has a lot of experience from the past five years as a GM and he’s ready to step into a leading role. With us, he has had his own ideas on the draft, players, and now he gets an opportunity to push his basketball abilities to the forefront. His role will be no different than mine was. He will make all final decisions on all basketball-related matters. There can only be one voice and it will be his.”

Added team owner Herb Simon: “I have the utmost faith in Kevin taking over. He has learned from a couple of great ones, Donnie and Larry, while with the Pacers. We all feel he will do a tremendous job.”

Listen to Pritchard’s press conference from Monday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, plus a breakout session he held with local writers, below:

Larry Bird officially stepped down on Monday as the Pacers’ President of Basketball Operations, a title he has held since 2003.

“I felt it was time to step away in a full-time capacity,” Bird said. “This has nothing to do with my health or our team. I’m 60 years old and I want to do other things away from basketball. I will do some scouting for the Pacers, NBA, college, international, do some appearances and stay in a capacity to advise senior basketball management. I love the Pacers, I grew up with the Pacers and admired them from a very young age. I want to thank the fans for their support throughout my career. I also want to thank (owner) Herb Simon for the many years of loyalty and for allowing me to stay with the team in a different role.”

Added team owner Herb Simon: “This is not a shock to me as Larry has always been up front about someday stepping down. I thank him for all that he has done and am very pleased he is remaining with the Pacers in a different capacity.”

Kevin Pritchard, who Bird hired into the front office in 2011, takes over as president. Click here to get to know Pritchard, who was born in Bloomington.

Listen to Bird’s 13-minute press conference, held Monday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, below:

As many may have been looking ahead to the weekend or talking about the first night of the 2017 NFL Draft, news broke at 12:29 pm ET that Larry Bird had decided to step away from his duties as the Pacers President of Basketball Operations.

General Manager Kevin Pritchard, who first joined the franchise in 2011, will now take on those responsibilities, a league source confirmed to VigilantSports.com.

In what became an emergency podcast, I shared my thoughts on what went down and how it might impact the organization.

Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes.

I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* Why Larry Bird’s decision wasn’t surprising.

* Had Bird’s voice become stale?

* Pacers plan of succession.

* Kevin Pritchard rising through the ranks.

Four days after the Pacers’ season came to an end, Sunday afternoon in a Game 4 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, head coach Nate McMillan spoke with reporters about his first season has head coach here.

McMillan answered questions for 25 minutes, with questions ranging from team identity, leadership, and what went wrong during the 2016-17, to their needs going into next year and what exactly individual players must work on.

Just before the press conference began, Tamika Catchings, the newest member of the front office at Pacers Sports & Entertainment, entered. She observed from the back of the room.

Scroll down to the bottom to listen to the entire press conference.

Key points and quotes from the press conference are below:

* Like the players, McMillan sat down with Larry Bird to discuss his first year as Pacers head coach. “Just talked about the season and a little bit about what we would like to do this offseason. It was a good conversation.”

* Capsule of the season: Need to be more consistent, tougher, improve rebounding and maturity.

* McMillan is open to Lance Stephenson be the starting shooting guard next season. “I’m certainly open to trying to balance our roster depending on who we have on our roster next season.”

* When asked about the team’s identity and style of play for next year, he says a lot is going to depend on the roster and how free agency goes. “We have a couple guys who are free agents that I’m sure we’re going to be looking to sign. We have a few guys that have option years that they may opt out. If they do that, can we bring them back or do we replace them with another player?

* McMillan says he is planning for next season with the belief that Paul George will be here. “Paul is under contract and I had a good conversation with Paul during our meeting. He wants the same thing that I want, the organization wants — and that’s to win. He is under contract so my plans are that we will be back with us.”

* Jeff Teague, who will be an unrestricted free agent, expressed that he really wanted to be back, according to McMillan. “After having him for a season, as I told him, he needs to be better. I think I can make him better.”

* During exit interviews, McMillan wants to hear feedback from the players. He wants to hear what worked, how they felt about his coaching, the assistants, and more. “The number one goal for us was to make the playoffs. This was not a rebuild, it was more of a reload.”

* McMillan also goes through what he wants each player to do in the offseason and how they can come back better players.

* He didn’t want to pigeonhole Myles Turner to the four or the five. “I think he can play the four and the five. Is there room to bring another big in, like we played him two seasons ago with Ian Mahinmi, a bigger center? I think that’s a possibility. But I think he has the versatility to play both positions.”

* The number one thing for Turner this summer is to work on his strength.

* He understands the issues in defensive communication. Six new players, a new coach, combined with quiet personalities did not bode well. “When you’re out there, you can’t assume that your teammates are going to read your mind. You have to communicate all actions out on the floor. It seems like a simple thing, but (for) so many teams that’s a challenge.”

* McMillan wants his guys to be better conditioned from Day 1, and now having to play their way into shape. He thought after a historic first half in Game 3, that his team wore down. “We may have left it all in that first half.”

* On conditioning he added: “You might think you&#...

So much for retirement, right? For Tamika Catchings, she only has one speed: GO!

Since playing in the final game of her professional basketball career, the four-time Olympian has kept a full plate. Did you expect anything different?

She has traveled with her husband, Parnell. She served as a game analyst for women’s college basketball on the SEC Network. She took over as the owner of her favorite tea shop, Tea’s Me Indy Cafe. And this month, she stayed on with Pacers Sports & Entertainment in an official capacity … on top of running her foundation, Catch the Stars.

Catchings is the newest member of the front office down at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Her official title is the “Director of Player Programs and Franchise Development.” Which will fit nicely on a business card.

This role includes, but is not limited to:

* aid with structure and implementation of player development programs, player relations and community outreach

* help teams build chemistry and continuity among players

* assist each franchise in recruiting free agents

* help with leadership development and professional skills for all players

* work one-on-one with individual players on speaking and presentation skills, and the development of athlete foundations or other business interests

This is a grand-slam hire for Rick Fuson and Pacers Sports & Entertainment.

Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes.

I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* Her adventures since retiring.

* Being an analyst for the SEC Network.

* Purchasing Tea’s Me.

* Her role in staying on at PS&E.

The Pacers trail the Cleveland 3-0 in their best-of-seven first-round series, but it’s been close. C.J. Miles potential game-winning jumper just missed as time expired in Game 1; Game 2 was decided by six points; and in Game 3, the Pacers led by 25 points at intermission — and loss. It was the greatest halftime deficit overcome in a win by the Cavaliers, 119-114.

Three Pacers losses to the LeBron James-led Cavaliers by a total of 12 points.

Jason Smeathers, a basketball trainer with Rob Blackwell over at St. Vincent Sports Performance, joins me on the podcast to breakdown the series. Like me, he was at Bankers Life Fieldhouse for Game 3.

Smeathers is a local product, a graduate from Center Grove High School. He then went on to play one year IUPUI — with George Hill providing the assist on obtaining a scholarship — and he finished his career at IPFW. He then played two years overseas, one year in Australia and the other in Canada.

Now, he’s a keen observer of the NBA product — watching games nearly every night.

Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes.

I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* How the Pacers have played and been in every game.

* Cavaliers’ adjustments in the second half.

* Can Paul George be a No. 1 player?

* How the Pacers may have awaken the beast.

* Why Lance Stephenson is a force for good.

“My love for this city and this organization has not wavered.”

That’s Jermaine O’Neal, the former Pacer who was back in Indianapolis Sunday to be part of the Indiana Pacers’ celebration of the 2000s decades.

O’Neal played for seven teams, but he was at his best in Indianapolis where he finished third in the NBA MVP voting in 2004 in a season he led the team to the conference finals, and he was a six-time NBA All-Star.

“I got a chance to establish myself in a way that I can go anywhere in the country and outside of the country, and be recognized because of the base that the Indiana Pacers family extended to me. Because of the support that this city and this state gave me, that type of stuff, man, you just never forget.”

In franchise history, he ranks fifth in points (9,580), sixth in rebounds (4,933), and first in blocks (1,245). O’Neal, who’s just 38, is now a businessman in Dallas, Texas and he has two kids.

View this post on Instagram I just want to say a "BIG THANK YOU" to the @pacers for showing me and my family such a great time tonight and doing a incredible job with the All Decade Team celebration. To be considered one of the best to ever put on a pacer uniform is such a huge honor and I'm very thankful for that. I also want to say thank you to the thousands of pacer fans that were in attendance tonight for showing sooooooo much love and appreciation! It was without a doubt heart felt ❤️! From day one you have always made me feel like a second son and tonight wasn't anything short of that 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾! I wish nothing but the best for pacer organization, the city of Indianapolis, and the state of Indiana! You will always have a special place in my heart and my life! #ILookFowardToSpendingMoreTimeHere #PacerForLife!!!!! A post shared by Jermaine O’Neal Sr (@jermaineoneal) on Mar 12, 2017 at 6:34pm PDT

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I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* Finding his passion in business and being inspired by Magic Johnson

* Why he didn’t go into sports broadcasting

* Growing and learning on the job with the Pacers

* Naming his son Jermaine, his daughter becoming the first O’Neal to attend college and not meeting his dad until he was 30

* What then Kentucky coach Rick Pitino told him about going directly to the NBA

* Launching Club 7 in Broad Ripple

* Plans to work with Myles Turner

* The Brawl, and plans to produce a documentary on it

After four seasons with the Pacers, center Ian Mahinmi moved on to the Washington Wizards last July. He signed a four-year, $64 million deal that pays him $16 million annually.

As the Pacers rebuilt their roster and Mahinmi, among others, went elsewhere, it’s been really special to see those guys (and their significant other) remain close.

Recently, George Hill’s fiancé, Sam, C.J. Miles’ wife, Lauren, and more met in D.C. to celebrate the birthday of Alexis — Ian’s wife.

“Basketball is our job. We do what we love, but it’s also a business,” Mahinmi said. “When you spend time with teammates and people like that, I think you become a family and it becomes a brotherhood where it goes way beyond whatever you do on the court. Me and George [Hill] are like real brothers.”

In past years, Mahinmi and Hill would train together in Texas and they remain close friends today. In fact, Mahinmi’s teenage brother, Jason, lives with the Hill’s in Utah.

“It goes way beyond being teammates. It’s really family matters.”

[Mahinmi receives 2016 Teammate of the Year Award]

The challenge for him this season has been health. His appearance at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Friday (0 points, 3 rebounds) was just his third game of the season with the Wizards.

First he suffered a partially torn left meniscus in the preseason, then returned in late November and had right knee tendinitis. In December he had platelet-rich plasma treatment on both knees before finally returning on Feb. 8.

I think you’ll enjoy this podcast catching up with Mahinmi, who appreciated Pacers fans and his time in Indy.

Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes.

I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* Emotions of facing his former team in Indianapolis.

* Maintaining relationship despite player movement.

* Seeing his close friend, George Hill, traded from his hometown team.

* Feeling part of the team while missing significant time because of injury.

* Getting settled in somewhere new.

Solomon Hill was always a likable guy, going back from his first conference call after being taken at 23rd by the Pacers in the 2013 NBA Draft. He played three years with the team, and then left in free agency after the team elected to decline their fourth-year team option on his rookie deal after sub-par play.

In July, 2016, he signed with New Orleans for $48 million over four years. As the league’s television rights deal went up, salaries skyrocketed and Hill took advantage.

Before his first visit back to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hill had already played the Pacers twice — once in the preseason and again in New Orleans. And while he was glad to return to Indy, it evoked a lot of emotions, too. Good emotions.

“It was definitely different,” he said after the Pelicans fell to the Pacers by three. “I’m kind of just glad to not be coming back here again [this year]. A lot of emotions. I have some brothers, some guys I talk to almost on a daily basis over there.”

Here that and more in this episode.

See Also: Why Solomon Hill’s time with the Pacers is over

Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes.

I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* From out of the rotation with the Pacers to getting $48 million from New Orleans.

* Emotions returning to Indianapolis and to Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

* How it’s never personal. It’s business.

* His opinion of Paul George’s PG1.

* Having his first kid, a girl.

Eddie White has traveled across the world and worked for multiple professional sports teams. He’s currently the Director of Corporate Communications for the Indiana Pacers, and the host of Pacers Overtime on 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis.

White was part of the team’s traveling party to London as the franchise played in its first regular-season game outside of the United States on Jan. 12. They faced the Denver Nuggets across the pond and inside The O2 Arena, which opened in 2007 and holds 20,000.

NBA fans in attendance saw the Pacers play terribly, losing 140-112. “What happened in London stays in London,” C.J. Miles said afterwards.

LISTEN: Podcast with Aaron Eamer, a Pacers fan in London

On this podcast, we don’t talk about the game.

Instead, we talked about everything that led up to the game, like dinner at Kensington Palace, various transportation options in London, and being accompanied by sponsors on the trip.

Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes.

I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* How participating in the NBA Global Games benefits the Pacers

* Traveling to/from London, and while there

* Schmoozing with Adam Silver and hosting team sponsors

* Indy teams supporting one another

* Pacers’ chances to host an All-Star game in Indy

* Paul George launching his first signature shoe in London