The courtship of Rick Carlisle will continue for the next few days, but his hiring as the Indiana Pacers' next coach seems inevitable.

Carlisle, the former Pacers assistant, was in town all day Thursday meeting with Pacers officials at Conseco Fieldhouse. He could return to the fieldhouse as early as Tuesday to be introduced as the successor to Isiah Thomas, who was fired Wednesday after three seasons.

Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said the details of a contract would have to be worked out with Carlisle's agent before any official announcement could be made. The Labor Day weekend is one reason that announcement won't be made before Tuesday.

"Nothing gets done until Tuesday at the earliest," Walsh said. "We're talking to Rick right now. He just got in here today, so we'll see what happens. He's the first guy on our list and I really think he wants to be here, but there's a lot that has to be worked out before anything is final."

Carlisle is the handpicked choice of Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird, who categorized Thursday's talks as positive.

"He didn't want to leave here the first time," Bird said when asked about Carlisle's intentions. "I know he didn't want to leave this city. His wife (Donna) cried when they left before."

Carlisle lost out to Thomas in July 2000 when they were the finalists to replace Bird, who stepped down after three seasons coaching the Pacers.

Carlisle was an assistant to Bird then, his main responsibility being the coordination of the team's offense.

Bird said Carlisle had every intention of remaining with the Pacers then, with his sights set on the head coaching job.

"I can tell you that the negotiations are ongoing," Bird said. "We'll go from here and see what we can get done."