Donnie Walsh relinquished a job title when he hired Larry Bird as the Indiana Pacers' president of basketball operations July 11. But he's yet to give up much of the workload.

Walsh is still churning out workdays that routinely spill over into evenings and weekends while Bird gets acclimated to his new position.

Soon after Reggie Miller's new contract is finalized, though, Walsh will begin shifting more of his focus away from the Pacers. It will mark the beginning of the end of a 17-year run -- easily the longest among NBA front-office team leaders -- during which he's gained widespread league respect.

Walsh's transition is unique. He's under no pressure from ownership, he has no health problems and he has no immediate plans to retire. Yet he's voluntarily turning over control of the basketball operations to Bird, putting him in charge of drafts, trades, free agency, scouting and coaching hires, because he believes it's a good long-term move for the franchise.

Walsh will finish the remaining four years of his contract as CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, the corporate umbrella that covers the Fever, Firebirds and all the events that pass through Conseco Fieldhouse.