NBA PLAYOFFS / UPDATE : AROUND THE LEAGUE : Chaney Says Rodman Is Leaving Pistons

New Detroit Piston Coach Don Chaney and troubled forward Dennis Rodman met for lunch and resolved one thing: Rodman will leave.

“He mentioned that it was time to part ways,” Chaney said, “and I agreed.”

Rodman missed the start of last season because of personal problems, but he was the NBA’s leading rebounder for the second consecutive season.

Rodman was shaken by the departure of Coach Chuck Daly before the start of the season and was going through a difficult divorce. Daly’s successor, Ron Rothstein, lasted one year. Chaney was named coach Monday.

“It was a candid and casual talk,” Chaney said. “But I told him he didn’t have to say negative things to get traded. That’s part of the business. It’s nothing personal.”

Rodman was unavailable for comment.

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John Starks said it was a “stupid mistake” and the NBA said it should be a costly one, fining the New York Knick guard $5,000 for a butting Indiana’s Reggie Miller in the head in the third quarter of Tuesday’s Game 3 of their best-of-five playoff series.

Starks was ejected for a flagrant foul and Miller made both free throws to tie the score and begin a 19-4 run in the Pacers’ 116-93 victory. The Knicks, who also were fined $5,000 for the incident, lead the series, 2-1.