News Flash, the Pacers and the City of Indianapolis won’t reach a deal before the team’s June 30th deadline.  I’m shocked too.  (Insert sarcasm here)

The big question now is what’s next?  I seriously doubt if the Pacers will go anywhere for several reasons.

1. The economy is still in the tank and no municipality can afford the costs of bringing the team to their city.
2. There’s a pretty good chance that there will be an NBA lockout next year over a failure to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.
3. The NBA would have to sign off on any movement.

I purposely left out whether the Pacers would have to pay a penalty if they move because there is still some question as to how that would all play out, despite what you may have read elsewhere.

I don’t think the Pacers can barter from a position of strength because the city has nothing to lose.  If the Pacers get their way, the city is on the hook for $15 million for the operational costs of Conseco.   If the Pacers leave, the city is on the hook for the operational costs of Conseco.  It would be one thing if the Pacers were a winning team, because winning cures all ills.

Posted: 06|15|10 at 7:26 am by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
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