Su Wan eventually won 5 championships in 6 years, not "6 in 6 years." The fundamental reason was the Pacers couldn't give him a long-term stable lineup.
This stability is something small cities can't provide.
Even if Su Wan stayed, most of the media leaned toward the final outcome being "7 years, 5 championships."
Firstly, if he stayed, O'Neal would have to take a pay cut to remain. Moreover, in the "contract year" situation of Zach Randolph, if there were no prior extension, he would surely do something for his big contract.
After all, Zach Randolph was nearing the ambiguous age of 30!
But isn't it just O'Neal and Randolph whose contracts with the Pacers were expiring or about to expire?
Marc Gasol, Afflalo, and Millsap were all in the state of expiring or soon-to-expire contracts!
People always have their own interests.
Under such circumstances, unless Su Wan was God, he definitely couldn't control the locker room.
