HoopsHype.com Rumors

Kevin Pritchard: Huge thanks to Larry Bird for believing long in me. He is the most interesting man in the world (country version). Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Larry Bird 

The Indiana Pacers made it official this morning that president Larry Bird is leaving the team and former CEO Donnie Walsh is returning to the team. "I feel sad to announce that Larry is leaving us," owner Herb Simon said. "Larry could have stayed here as long as he wants, but he has his own reasons." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird, Herb Simon 

Bird said he has health issues with his back and shoulder, adding, "I just think it's time. It's the right time to go." He also said he has long felt that sometimes "you can be in one place too long." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird, Herb Simon 

Walsh will be in charge as president. Kevin Pritchard will be the new general manager. Pritchard said their working relationship "won't be a problem at all." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird, Herb Simon 

Mike Wells: Walsh and Pritchard will work together, but Walsh will get the final say. Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird, Herb Simon 

Mike Wells: Pritchard: "Today is a great day for me. An Indiana boy growing up here and going to Pacers games when I was young." Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird, Herb Simon 

Nobody I’ve spoken to questions Pritchard’s front-office acumen or work ethic. Where Bird hated to spend hours on the phone, Pritchard is a workaholic who used to work most holidays at the Blazers facility. And his background can’t be questioned; he was surrounded at different points of his career by the likes of Gregg Popovich, Larry Brown and San Antonio general manager R.C. Buford. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Larry Bird 

Sources say Bird is leaving but not entirely; he’ll be retained as a distant consultant for a year. Meaning Walsh will be back in control, though that’s not set stone. New York Post

Indiana Pacers, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird 

Larry Bird has decided to call it quits as president of the Indiana Pacers. Bird is “100 percent sure” he will not return as president of the team, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Star on Monday. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird 

Kevin Pritchard, the team’s current director of player personnel, will likely work with Walsh as the team’s new general manager. Bird pushed for Pritchard to become general manager, citing Pritchard’s basketball knowledge. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Larry Bird 

Seemingly, it’s done, though that could be deceiving. Kevin Pritchard, meanwhile, is making trade calls for the Pacers. Apparently, Bird has unofficially installed him as general manager, succeeding universally mistrusted David Morway? New York Post

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Larry Bird, David Morway 

When in Indy, Pritchard made a point to break bread as often as possible with Walsh, whom I’ve yet to hear back from. Once again, Walsh has left me hanging. So, I’m forced to take an educated guess. New York Post

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Larry Bird 

Larry Bird talked like he wants to remain as president during his season-ending press conference last month as long as his meeting with Simon went well. Bird wants Kevin Pritchard, the team’s director of player personnel, to be his new general manager. David Morway, who was the team’s general manager, hasn’t been around the team in more than two weeks. Walsh has attended some of the Pacers predraft workouts at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, according to sources. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird, David Morway 

Interesting stuff from Warriors coach Mark Jackson on the Dan Patrick show. Jackson said "I think Jason Kidd would be great as a backup or in a mentor role. When you look at Steve Nash's numbers, he's still a starter." ... Jackson also said LeBron had moved past Larry Bird as the starting small forward on his all-time team. Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, LeBron James, Steve Nash, Mark Jackson, Jason Kidd, Larry Bird 

The Orlando Magic hired Rob Hennigan as its new general manager Wednesday, but the team was pursuing Indiana Pacers President Larry Bird for the job, Local 6 Sports Director David Pingalore learned. According to Pingalore's sources, Magic ownership met with Bird, the NBA Executive of the Year, in Boca Raton in recent weeks. WKMG Local 6

Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Larry Bird, Rob Hennigan 

Pacers owner Herb Simon and president Larry Bird are expected to meet next week. That’s not a typo and it’s not the same blog from last week. It could easily be mistaken for last week’s blog on the subject. But it’s not. They had originally wanted to meet last week. Then it was this week. Now it’ll be next week when Simon returns to Indy. Sulia

Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird, Herb Simon 

Andrew Perna: Another delay in the Bird-Simon meeting puts involved parties in limbo even longer. Not good for those under Bird. Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird 

Indiana officials would like to work out guard Evan Fournier of France one more time so Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird can evaluate him. Bird missed Fournier’s first workout because of a personal matter. The Pacers have the 26th overall pick Racine Journal-Times

Indiana Pacers, Draft, Larry Bird, Evan Fournier 

Mike Wells: The wait for the Bird-Simon meeting has been extended another week. The two won't meet until next week when Simon returns to Indy. Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird, Owners, Herb Simon 

LeBron had 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds in the Miami Heat’s Game 4 victory, plateaus Jordan never reached in a single NBA Finals game. LeBron is the first player with those numbers in an NBA Finals game since Larry Bird in 1986. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Larry Bird