Carlisle fired after Pacers miss playoffs

Indiana Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle was fired Wednesday after a season in which the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

The Pacers finished 35-47, their worst season since 1988-89.

Carlisle, 181-147 in his four seasons, said he understood it was time for the Pacers to hear a “new voice.” Team President Larry Bird said anything is possible -- and the new coach might have to adjust.

“He’s got to understand going in that we will trade any one of these players, and it might not be what he likes, but he’s got to know that going in,” said Bird, adding that he is not interested in coaching the team again.

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Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown received permission from the Philadelphia 76ers to interview for the Memphis Grizzlies’ coaching vacancy, a team spokesman said. Brown reportedly met with Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley on Wednesday.

Fired by the New York Knicks before last season, Brown, 66, returned to the 76ers as an executive vice president in January.

The Grizzlies, who went from a playoff team to the NBA’s worst record this season at 22-60, fired coach Mike Fratello in December and were led in the interim by Tony Barone Sr. Jerry West also stepped down as the Grizzlies’ director of basketball operations, effective July 1.

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Atlanta Hawks Coach Mike Woodson will return for his fourth season despite a 30-52 record that left the team out of the playoffs for the eighth straight season, President Bernie Mullin said.... Clippers swingman Corey Maggette was scheduled to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee today.