Larry Bird announced Sunday that head coach Jim O’Brien has been relieved of his duties as head coach and assistant coach Frank Vogel has been named interim coach.

“We’ve been looking at everything with our team, from the beginning of the season and now at the halfway mark and I think at this time a change is necessary,” said Bird. “This isn’t all on Jim. All of us share in the responsibility for where we’re at and where we need to go.

“These decisions are never reached easily and this is no different,” Bird added. “Jim did a good job under the circumstances the last three-and-a-half years in a rebuilding effort, he helped change the culture and worked every day to try to get this franchise turned in the right direction. I have the utmost respect for Jim and what he did for us.”

O’Brien compiled a 121-169 record with the Pacers, including a 17-27 mark this season.

The 37-year-old Vogel is in his 14^th NBA season, eight of those as an assistant coach. Vogel got his start in the NBA in 1997 as the head video coordinator under Rick Pitino at Boston. He became an assistant coach under O’Brien in Boston, served with him in Philadelphia and then with the Pacers.

 “Frank Vogel is a good, sound, basketball man who with the other assistant coaches, all of whom are staying, will work toward our goal of making the Eastern Conference Playoffs this year,” said Bird.

“I appreciate this opportunity, but it is a bittersweet feeling since I wouldn’t be in this position without Coach O’Brien believing in me,” said Vogel. “We will exhaust all of our resources to get this turned around. This definitely isn’t about what I’m going to do, it is about what we are going to try to do.”

The Toronto Raptors bought out the remainder of Peja Stojakovic’s contract on Thursday.

“We were clear from the beginning that our trade with New Orleans was made with the future in mind, so a buyout or trade of Peja’s contract was a likely option,” Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said in a statement. “Although he did not fit into our plan of developing our young core talent, I’m sure that Peja will add significantly to any veteran team that signs him.”

The Mavericks, Hornets and Lakers are all expected to be interested in Stojakovic.

Sasha Pavlovic has received a second 10-day contract from the Mavericks.

Pavlovic broke his nose during Wednesday's game on the final day of his first 10-day contract.

The Kings have recalled rookie center Hassan Whiteside from the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League.

Sacramento assigned Whiteside to Reno on Nov. 29. In 14 games, he averaged 4.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.14 blocks and 10.5 minutes.

Whiteside won't join the Kings for the remaining games on their road trip as he'll remain in Sacramento to work out.

He will work out with assistant Pete Carril.

Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld announced Wednesday that the team has waived guard Lester Hudson. 

Hudson appeared in 11 games in two separate stints with Washington this season, totaling 18 points and 17 assists in 73 minutes of play. 

He was previously signed this season on September 24, waived on November 22, and signed again on December 20. 

Washington's roster currently stands at 14.

The Spurs have waived swingman Ime Udoka.

San Antonio made the announcement on Wednesday.

He played sparingly in 20 games after being signed in November.

The Spurs have just 12 players on their roster.

Ronald Dupree has been waived by the Raptors.

He was re-signed by the Raptors on Dec. 26 and appeared in three games.

Toronto now has 14 players on their roster.

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on center Brian Skinner, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Skinner, 34, signed as a free agent on December 2, 2010. He appeared in two games with the Bucks this season. A veteran of 12 NBA seasons (including 2003-04 and 2006-07 in Milwaukee), Skinner holds career averages of 4.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 607 career games.

The Atlanta Hawks today requested waivers on guard/forward Damien Wilkins, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund.

Wilkins has appeared in 13 games off the bench for Atlanta this season, averaging 2.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.7 spg and 0.6 apg (.464 FG%, .636 FT%) in 13.1 mpg. The University of Georgia product was originally signed by the Hawks on December 3, 2010.

The Timberwolves have waived guard Sundiata Gaines.

Minnesota's roster now stands at 14 players.

Gaines averaged 2.6 points in eight games this season.