Bobcats keep on searching

Mike Fratello and Paul Silas have plenty of NBA coaching experience. Sam Vincent and Mario Elie have only been NBA assistants. Then there’s Reggie Theus, who has never coached in the league.

You can say one thing about the Charlotte Bobcats’ search for Bernie Bickerstaff’s replacement: it’s exhaustive. Eight people have interviewed and they aren’t finished.

Yet the wild card remains NBA coach of the year Sam Mitchell. Bickerstaff hired him as his lead assistant in 2004, a month before he left to take the Raptors’ job.

Mitchell’s contract runs out June 30, but Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo has said he wants to keep him. Bickerstaff, who is taking part in the search, said he’s yet to seek permission to speak with Mitchell.

O’Neal denies rumor

Jermaine O’Neal respects the Indiana Pacers too much to demand a trade, despite his frustrations over missing the playoffs. O’Neal said he has spoken with Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh once since the season ended, but trade talk never entered the conversation. He said there is nothing to reports that he’s pushing to be reunited with his old coach Isiah Thomas in New York.

Around the league

The trial for Golden State’s Stephen Jackson, accused of firing a gun during a fight at an Indianapolis strip club, was delayed a second time and is now set for June 21. … Coach Pat Riley issued a one-sentence regarding the future of the Miami Heat: Shaquille O’Neal will be a part of it. “Amongst growing speculation in the media, in reference to Shaq, I want to set the record straight and say that we are not trading Shaq.” … A new study found that the NBA had the highest percentages of minority vice presidents and league office personnel in men’s sports history – 15 and 34 percent, respectively. The study was conducted by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida. … The New Orleans Hornets should be able to return by Aug. 1 to the suburban practice courts they used before Hurricane Katrina.