Frank Vogel's loss could be Mark Jackson's gain.
ESPN.com is reporting the Pacers have grown weary of current coach Vogel's system and could be leaning toward a change that could net former franchise star Mark Jackson in the organizational driver's seat.
The website adds senior level front office execs Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh have all tired of Vogel's "player friendly approach" and may be ready to bring back a Pacers insider like Jackson, who spent several seasons playing for the organization.
It's not exactly unfamiliar territory for Vogel, who was only awarded the extension during a time when Bird was on a one-year sabbatical from the organization and after he had previously openly questioned some of the veteran coach's tactics.
Jackson previously played under Bird when the Hall of Fame forward was serving as the team's coach and the squad was being led by Jackson and All-Star shooting guard Reggie Miller.
In times past, Walsh has also expressed his fondness and admiration for Jackson, who was unceremoniously dumped as coach in Golden State at the end of this season after leading the Warriors to the team's first 50-win season in nearly two decades, not to mention the franchise's first back-to-back playoff berths over that same time frame.
Vogel has long been rumored to be coaching for his job and those rumblings only intensified after the top-seeded Pacers were stretched to a full seven game series by the undermanned Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Vogel has also taken heat for the undisciplined nature of his team, which during th postseason included several meltdowns by star, free-agent-to-be forward Lance Stephenson, particularly during the Miami series when he blew in LeBron James' ear, incurred several fines for flopping and was whistled for several over-exuberant foul violations.
Do you think the Pacers should fire Frank Vogel? Tell us @SportsW
© 2023 Sportsworldnews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
