Pistons to Hire Carlisle

Former Indiana Pacer assistant Rick Carlisle has reportedly reached an agreement to coach the Detroit Pistons.

“I’m very happy we were able to come to an agreement,” Carlisle told the Detroit News on Thursday. “The Detroit Pistons are an NBA franchise with a strong tradition. I look forward to being a part of the process for building it back up.”

The Oakland Press of Pontiac and the Detroit Free Press also reported the hiring, and the Pistons scheduled a news conference for this morning to introduce their new coach.

The deal is expected to be for three years and between $5 million and $6 million, the News and the Oakland Press reported.

Carlisle will succeed George Irvine, who was fired after the Pistons finished with a 32-50 record, the ninth-worst in the NBA.

Dallas Maverick assistant Del Harris, considered the leading candidate to become the Cleveland Cavaliers’ next coach, is expected to soon tell the Cavaliers if he will take the job.

Larry Harris, the son of the former Laker coach, said his father is contemplating the Cavaliers’ offer.

“I’m not sure whether he’ll take the job or not,” said Harris, the Milwaukee Bucks’ director of player personnel. “I would expect him to give the Cavaliers an answer in the next 48 hours.”

Speculation has grown that Harris, 64, one of the highest-paid assistants in the league at $750,000 per year, would stay in Dallas.

The Cavaliers have been looking for a coach since firing Randy Wittman on April 19.

Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill believes his surgically-repaired ankle will be healed enough by next month to let him step on a court for the first time since December.

“I’m playing it safe and saying June,” Hill said in Orlando. “That will give me a good 3 1/2 months to get ready to go.”

Hill, who signed as a free agent with the Magic last summer, played in only four games for Orlando before undergoing a second surgery Jan. 3.

Hill injured his left ankle at the end of the 1999-2000 season while with the Pistons. He first had surgery last April to repair a broken bone in which five screws and a plate were inserted.

“I had an X-ray last Friday and the doctors said it’s going well,” Hill said. “I’m working out, not running yet, but I do cardio, I get on the bike, the treadmill and the stairmaster.”

Denver Nugget forward Antonio McDyess fired agents Tony Dutt and James Bryant and will handle future contract negotiations with the help of his manager, Kegis Smith, according to a press release from Smith.