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The Nets head coaching search eventually filtered down to two candidates, Jason Kidd and Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, said general manager Billy King. In actuality at the end, there was only one, Kidd, even while Shaw went through a lengthy interview on Wednesday. “I’m disappointed because I did not speak to Billy directly but I did give him permission to talk to him and wrote him a note letting him know what I thought [about Shaw],” said Pacers president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh Thursday. “He’s going to be a great head coach. Great head coach.” New York Post

Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Jason Kidd, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh 

Walsh hasn’t talked to Bird in more than a month, since the Pacers went deep into the playoffs. Should Bird wish to return and an agreement can be made with owner Herb Simon, Walsh said he’s prepared to step away. A three-headed monster with Walsh, Bird and Pritchard would be just that, and wouldn’t be good for the organization. Pacers.com

Indiana Pacers, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird, Owners, Herb Simon 

Marc Berman: Billy King compared his hiring of Kidd to Donnie Walsh hiring Larry Bird in Indiana. Twitter @NYPost_Berman

Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Jason Kidd, Donnie Walsh, Billy King, Larry Bird 

The mission for the Pacers’ front office this summer will be identical to what it was a year ago: Bring the core players back. Last summer, the team paid a combined $98 million to keep a pair of starters, Roy Hibbert and George Hill, in Indiana uniforms. This year’s key free agent is veteran power forward David West. Team president Donnie Walsh and general manager Kevin Pritchard made that clear this morning in a news conference. “We want him back as much as you can want anyone back,” Walsh said. “We think he’s one of the anchors of the team.” Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Free Agency, Donnie Walsh, David West 

Scott Agness: Walsh on Granger: "Very optimistic. It comes from the medical opinions we've had that Danny will be back for training camp & should be 100%" Twitter @ScottAgness

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Donnie Walsh, Injuries 

Vogel said he is expecting to have to fill a spot on his coaching staff. Brian Shaw, the Pacers’ associate head coach the past two seasons, has been targeted by a number of NBA teams with head coaching vacancies. Pacers president Donnie Walsh has already given permission to the Clippers and Nets to speak with Shaw. “I do have the anticipation that we will have to replace him,” Vogel said of Shaw. “If we don’t, there’s some poor decisions being made by some teams out there. He’s going to be one of the great coaches this league’s seen.” Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh 

Pacers officials say that King has done an inordinate amount of research on Shaw over the past several weeks. Pacers president Donnie Walsh worked with King years ago with Indiana and has kept a close relationship with him. Yahoo! Sports

Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh, Billy King 

Donnie Walsh is convinced majority owner Herb Simon remains committed to spending what's necessary to keep the nucleus together. NBA.com

Indiana Pacers, Donnie Walsh, Owners, Herb Simon 

There are signals that Larry Bird may want to return to the presidency next season. Walsh has indicated he would have no problem stepping aside. But for now, Bird's absence has created the oddest dynamic: the people now in charge of keeping the Pacers together had almost nothing to do with bringing them together. "I've told him, he's weird to do that," Walsh said Sunday. "But he did that when he was my coach and we went to The Finals with him, and he resigned right after that. I would ask him, 'What's your dynamic here? Why would you leave now?' But I've learned to never psychoanalyze Bird." NBA.com

Indiana Pacers, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird 

Hall of Famer Reggie Miller said this week that he has thought about working in the Pacers’ front office someday. President Donnie Walsh said he and the former Pacers great have never had a serious discussion about Miller joining the team. What would Walsh say if Miller asked his advice? “You’re not going to make as much money as you did as a player,” Walsh said laughing. “But you’ll make a good living and you have to really think everything out. This isn’t like where you have your first thought and then you go do it. You have to look at all the ramifications of everything you do ’cause it impacts the team, not just one person.” Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Donnie Walsh, Reggie Miller 

Scott Agness: Pacers execs Walsh, Pritchard, Dinwiddie, Ryan Carr (Dir. of Scouting), Dr. Carr (psychologist) in Chicago for pre-draft combine, per source Twitter @ScottAgness

Indiana Pacers, Draft, Kevin Pritchard, Donnie Walsh 

Jackson's long relationship with Brian Shaw, the Indiana Pacers assistant regarded as a top head-coaching candidate, also could factor into the search. Pacers president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh has said he would prefer his assistants not interview for other jobs during the postseason, but if Jackson happens to mention to Shaw that he thinks Detroit might be a good fit, and Dumars happens to agree, then the unconventional association between Jackson and the Pistons could pay substantive dividends. Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh, Joe Dumars 

Donnie Walsh said he is unsure he will return as Pacers president next season and thinks here’s still a chance Larry Bird will unretire and retake the helm. Walsh, the 72-year-old former Knicks president, told The Post Sunday he recently asked Bird if he wants to come back and he’d be willing to step aside. Walsh still hasn’t heard an answer from Bird. New York Post

Indiana Pacers, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird 

The names tossed around in Sunday’s media session included Jackson and Sloan, while a source shot down a report that Jeff Van Gundy is a top target — indicating there’s a “98% chance” the Nets don’t even meet with the TV analyst and former Knicks coach. Meanwhile, highly respected Pacers assistant Brian Shaw will be allowed to speak with the Nets after Indiana’s season concludes, team president Donnie Walsh told the Daily News. New York Daily News

Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh, Jeff Van Gundy 

“I think Brian would be great as a head coach," Walsh said Sunday. “Just as I thought Mark Jackson would be a tremendous coach, I feel the same way about Brian. They both know the game, you can tell they see it like head coaches. And they also know how to relate to players and get them to do what they need to be successful.” New York Daily News

Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh 

Stefan Bondy: Donnie Walsh tells News that he will allow Brian Shaw to talk to the Nets after Pacers season is done Twitter @NYDNInterNets

Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh 

This may be the offseason that Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw finally gets the opportunity to be a head coach. But he may have to wait until the Pacers are out of the playoffs before he interviews for a job. Pacers President Donnie Walsh said he prefers for his assistant coaches to wait until after the playoffs to interview for openings. “I’m not saying I won’t change my mind, but that’s what I would like,” Walsh said. Walsh said he hasn’t been contacted by any teams asking for permission. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh 

Mike Wells: No teams have contacted Indy to ask for permission to talk to B Shaw yet. Donnie Walsh's preference is to wait until they r done n playoffs Twitter @MikeWellsNBA

Indiana Pacers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh 

Mike Wells: Walsh added that his rule is not set in stone, but he prefer if his coaches wait until after they are done n playoffs to interview for jobs Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh 

Walsh, 72, said yesterday he isn’t sure he will be back next season. He said he only stepped in because Larry Bird needed a break. “I took this job because Larry wanted a year off,” Walsh said. “If Larry wants to come back, I’m out.’’ I’m leaving. If he doesn’t I don’t know what I’ll do.” Kevin Pritchard is Pacers GM. New York Post

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird