Red Auerbach's front-office shift wasn't even the biggest news in Boston.
The largest of Thursday's three NBA coaching moves involved Celtics great Larry Bird. Bird, who has no coaching experience at any level, accepted the job as coach of his hometown Indiana Pacers and was given a contract worth a reported $4.5 million a year.Rick Pitino's move to Boston sent Bird back to Indiana and shifted Auerbach, the man who built a dynasty as Celtics coach, out of his president's chair.
More than Boston's front office changed Thursday as the NBA coaching carousel switched into full gear.
P.J. Carlesimo was pushed out of Portland and Eddie Jordan was kept on in Sacramento.
Next to take a ride might be Detroit's Doug Collins, who, despite a 54-win season, reportedly is ready to leave the Pistons after just two seasons.
Bird is from French Lick, Ind., and was a star player at Indiana State before his stellar NBA career with Boston.
"I'm very excited about this opportunity to go back home and coach the Indiana Pacers," Bird said in a statement.
Bird, who led the Celtics to three NBA championships and had been an adviser for the franchise since retiring in 1992, will return to his home state for a news conference on Monday, the club said.
Despite Bird's lack of coaching experience, Pacers president Donnie Walsh has no doubts about his ability.
"He looks at the game from more of a coach's mind than a player's mind," Walsh said. "He's a very bright guy and a very honest guy, as well as a very tough guy. All those qualities add up. He'd be very successful anywhere he went."
Auerbach, who won nine championships as coach and who has been president since 1984, yielded the team presidency to Pitino and will become a vice chairman
The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, fired Carlesimo after three seasons, though their general manager thought the coach did a "good job."
Portland won 49 games this season and Carlesimo was 137-109 as coach, but the Blazers were eliminated in the first round all three years.
"I think P.J. did a good job this year. This coaching change is not about wins and losses, as many today are," general manager Bob Whitsitt said.
Whitsitt said the team needed a change, and that Portland wanted to utilize its younger players more.
Carlesimo said he was disappointed and that he would prefer to stay in the NBA. He has been mentioned as a possible successor to Pitino at Kentucky, but reports said that job was going to Georgia coach Tubby Smith.
Jordan, a former NBA player and assistant for five years, was given a two-year contract after just 15 games as interim coach last season.
Jordan was just 6-9 as coach of the Kings in what amounted to a late-season audition, but the team showed signs of improvement, and more importantly in a time where NBA players can get coaches fired, he had his team's support.
"The first thing I expect is to come back and play for Eddie Jordan as the coach," forward Corliss Williamson said after the team's last game. "I think everyone has seen the difference in the team."
One of the keys to the Kings' strong finish was Jordan's decision to give point guard Bobby Hurley some playing time. Hurley, the seventh overall pick in 1993, responded with four games of 10 assists or more.
The Kings appreciate Jordan's NBA background and low-key coaching style.
"I like his style. He played the game, and not to disrespect St. Jean or anything, but he lets you play," forward Michael Smith said. "I'd like to see the organization give a black man a chance and not just 15 games."