Bird back with Pacers after taking office job

INDIANAPOLIS -- Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas shook hands on their first day as boss and coach. Neither smiled.

Bird, hired as the Indiana Pacers' president of basketball operations Friday, said he looked forward to working with Thomas, who succeeded Bird as coach three years ago.

The contentious rivals from their days leading the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons to NBA titles say their focus is on doing the same for the Pacers.

"We've not sat down yet," Bird said. "Hopefully we're on the same page."

Bird was the NBA's coach of the year in 1998 and left the Pacers when his three-year contract ended. He guided the team to its only appearance in the league finals in 2000.

Bird will take over day-to-day decision-making from Donnie Walsh, who has led the franchise since 1986 and will stay on as chief executive.

Bird gave another explanation for walking away from the Pacers' front-office job offer three years ago: an irregular heartbeat that left him exhausted.

"I don't think a lot of people realized at the time that I had an arrhythmia," he said. "I was sort of worn down and didn't want a part of it, but I feel rejuvenated and ready to get to work."

The Hall of Famer, who won three NBA titles with the Boston Celtics in the 1980s, became more interested in returning to the NBA when the league decided to put an expansion team in Charlotte.

Bird joined a group that sought the franchise, but the team was awarded to billionaire Robert Johnson in December.

Clippers tab Mike Dunleavy as their new head coach

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Clippers introduced Mike Dunleavy as their new head coach Friday.

Dunleavy signed a four-year contract to return to Los Angeles, where he coached the Lakers to the 1991 NBA Finals.

"I've had one other stint in LA and it turned out very well for me," Dunleavy said. "I figure two times will be the charm."

Dunleavy replaces Alvin Gentry, who was fired in March.

Dunleavy is 398-390 in 10 seasons with the Lakers, Milwaukee and Portland.

Kidd decides against Spurs, stays with Nets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jason Kidd picked the New Jersey Nets over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in hopes of winning his first NBA title.

Kidd ended 11 days of free agency angst for the resurrected Nets when he spurned an offer from the Spurs on Friday and agreed to a six-year, $99 million deal with New Jersey.

"After great thought and consultation with the important people in my life, I have decided that I want to remain a New Jersey Net," said Kidd, the perennial All-Star point guard who was the biggest catch of the free agent market this offseason.

Mourning shuns Mavericks, says he's going to Nets

DALLAS -- Alonzo Mourning will sign a free-agent contract with the New Jersey Nets next week, Dallas owner Mark Cuban said Friday.

The Mavericks had been interested in signing the former All-Star, but now will have to look elsewhere to fill their void in the middle.

-- From wire reports