Sources: Pistons eye Isiah, Laimbeer for coach

While Knicks fans fret about the possibility of Isiah Thomas returning to New York, the Detroit Pistons are considering Thomas for their vacant head coaching position, according to league sources.

Thomas is not the leading candidate, sources say, but he is on Detroit's short list along with Mike Woodson, Kelvin Sampson and his former Pistons teammate Bill Laimbeer.

Thomas Laimbeer

Thomas, currently the head coach at Florida International University, made headlines this past weekend after the Knicks announced on Friday that Donnie Walsh would not return as the club's president and general manager. Because of Thomas' close relationship with Knicks owner James Dolan, there was speculation that Thomas could regain control of the Knicks.

Sources close to the Knicks' situation insist that Thomas will not be re-hired as the team's president or general manager and Thomas told ESPNNewYork.com's Ian O'Connor on Friday that he has "no desire to return" to the Knicks as president or as Walsh's replacement.

Thomas served as the New York's president in a controversial reign from 2003-2008 that left him among the most hated sports figures in recent New York history.

That is not the case, however, in Detroit, where Thomas led the Pistons to back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. Widely regarded as the greatest player in franchise history, the Hall of Famer could return to a club that has suffered through three straight losing seasons.

While Thomas' performance in the Knicks' front office left much to be desired, he has enjoyed success as a coach. He led the Indiana Pacers to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2000-2003 and helped develop Jermaine O'Neal, Jalen Rose and Ron Artest into stars. It's that success with young players that has the Pistons intrigued, according to sources.

In 2002, Thomas led the Pacers to a 34-15 start and was the coach of the Eastern Conference in the All-Star Game. However, the Pacers finished poorly and were eliminated in the first round for the third straight year, leading to Thomas' firing.

After joining the Knicks as team president, Thomas took over the club's coaching duties at the start of the 2006-2007 season. Over the next two years, his Knicks finished a disappointing 56-108.

Thomas, sources say, has been longing to return to the NBA. A return to Detroit would serve as a reunion with his close friend and former Hall of Fame backcourt mate, Joe Dumars, the Pistons' president.

Chris Broussard covers the NBA for ESPN The Magazine.

Follow Chris Broussard on Twitter: @chris_broussard

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Sources: Negotiations in progress to sell 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers owner Comcast-Spectacor is in talks to sell the team to a group led by New York-based leveraged buyout specialist Joshua Harris, according to sources.

Negotiations are ongoing and a source with knowledge of the talks called a deal "imminent."

The Associated Press, citing a person familiar with the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the team could be sold within the week. The source said Harris' group was not the only bidder but is now the lead bidder, adding the deal has been in the works for several months.

Once the parties reach final agreement, it would become official only with approval of the league's Board of Governors.

[+] Enlarge Steve Mitchell/US PresswireElton Brand and the Sixers could be playing for a new team owner next season if talks are successful.

The team had not been publicly offered for sale.

In a statement, Comcast-Spectacor chief operating officer Peter Luukko told The AP there are "discussions about the future of the team" that are confidential, but did not address a possible sale.

Harris, 46, co-founded Apollo Global Management, a publicly-traded firm which invests primarily in distressed properties, in 1990. In Forbes' 2011 billionaire rankings, Harris was reported to have a net worth of $1.5 billion.

Harris, through an Apollo spokeswoman, declined comment.

Other investors in the deal include private equity executive David Blitzer and former NBA player agent and Sacramento Kings executive Jason Levien.

Blitzer moved from New York to London in 2002 to create the London-based European office of the Blackstone Group, one of the largest private investment groups in the world.

As an agent, Levien represented players including Kevin Martin, Luol Deng and Udonis Haslem.

Harris and Blitzer have Philadelphia ties, having graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania within a few years of each other.

Through his holding company Spectacor, Ed Snider has controlled the Sixers since 1996 -- the same year Spectacor merged with Comcast. Comcast-Spectacor also owns the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, and the Wells Fargo Center where both teams play. The company would continue to own and operate the arena with the Sixers as a tenant, according to sources.

The Associated Press left a message for Snider seeking comment.

The Harris group would become the sixth owners in the club's 65-year history, which is among the league's richest. Only the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have won more regular-season games, and the Sixers are one of just eight NBA teams with three or more championships.

In recent years the team's performance has been somewhat lackluster, despite a significant payroll. This season, under coach Doug Collins, the Sixers, led by Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young, defied expectations by making the playoffs. Their run was ended by the Miami Heat in five games.

The 78-year-old Snider has long been more closely associated with hockey than basketball. He founded the Flyers in 1966, is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and operates a Philadelphia-based youth hockey program that bears his name.

The 76ers were valued this year by Forbes at $330 million, 17th in the NBA. Comcast SportsNet spokeswoman Maureen Quilter said the 76ers have a deal with the station through 2029.

"The thing that they're buying is the cable," Forbes media executive editor Mike Ozanian said. "That's the biggest part of the asset. It's been undermonetized, the cable deal.

"They've got to get at least twice of what they've been getting. It's under $13 million a year. They'll have no problem. It's pure profit because there's no cost associated with that."

Ozanian said even with a potential lockout looming, the timing could be right for a buyer to strike.

"A labor stoppage can work to your advantage," he said. "If you believe they're going to get a significantly lower salary cap, and a hard salary cap, it can be positive for team values and profits."

Harris' group would be purchasing a team that hasn't won a championship since 1983. Philadelphia has won only one playoff series since losing to the Lakers in the 2001 NBA finals.

The franchise's roots date back to the NBA's earliest days, when it competed as the Syracuse Nationals. The team moved to Philadelphia in 1963, filling the void created when the Philadelphia Warriors headed west to San Francisco.

Henry Abbott is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Rookie Gabbert leads Jaguars through workouts

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- First-round draft pick quarterback Blaine Gabbert was among 28 Jacksonville Jaguars players who practiced together at an area high school.

Previously, the players had been working in small groups throughout the area to stay in shape through the NFL lockout.

ESPN has dedicated 2011 to examining one of the most crucial positions in all of sports -- the quarterback.
Year of the QB ?

Gabbert, the 10th pick overall out of Missouri, spent much of the hour and a half practice taking instruction from starting quarterback David Garrard and throwing to a variety of receivers, including Cecil Shorts III, the Jags' fourth-round pick.

"It's been a blast," said Gabbert. "It's good to get out here with the guys and have the opportunity to work out a little bit and throw the ball around."

Gabbert said he arrived in town Sunday and has been working out with his group since. At night, he and Shorts have been studying film.

"We've been working (in groups) two months and not many teams can say that," cornerback Rashean Mathis said.

Garrard said media was invited to let the fans know the Jags aren't sitting around during the lockout.

"We wanted to give the fans the ability to see us out here," he said. "It's important that we do get out here and it's important that our fans see us work so we can continue to increase ticket sales and give them hope there will be a season."

None of the Jaguars were optimistic about an early end to the lockout. Garrard said commissioner Roger Goodell's recent proposal for an eight-game season wasn't comforting.

"It's scary," the QB said.

Among the missing players were tight end Marcedes Lewis, who is in California, and running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who has been traveling around the country.

"It's hard to pull them off the West coast," Garrard said.

The players said they remain united in their struggle with NFL owners and discounted the notion owners are counting on players caving when they start missing game pay checks.

"If it does become who is going to hold their breath the longest, we'll see who has the biggest lungs," defensive end Aaron Kampman said. "Hopefully it won't come to that."

Gabbert says it's good to "have the opportunity to work out a little bit and throw the ball around."

Gabbert says he arrived in town Sunday and has been working out with his group since.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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