After 12 years in Golden State, Chris Mullin is starting over. He says he is rejuvenated and healthy, ready to begin hitting shots for his new coach and former Olympic teammate--Larry Bird.

"Right now, it's total excitement for me," Mullin said Tuesday. "On the other hand, leaving the Warriors after 12 years, that's something that's maybe with mixed emotions."

The five-time All-Star, whose injuries became almost as commonplace as his passes, was traded to the Pacers for second-year center Erick Dampier and backup forward Duane Ferrell.

Mullin said he requested the trade.

"This opportunity was unique, and I think it fit me to a T," he said. "It's just something that doesn't come along that much. When you're at a place for so long, it has to be something special for you to leave, and I think this is that situation."

The 6-foot-7-inch Mullin had one year remaining on his Golden State contract. Terms of his multiyear contract with the Pacers were not disclosed.

"I don't think there is anyone better in the league than Chris Mullin to step in there as the second or third option and score points for you," said Bird, who played with Mullin at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

The trade for the 34-year-old swingman gives Indiana a boost in scoring at small forward and bulks up Golden State's size and depth.

"We've all wanted Chris here as we watched him play in Golden State, and no one more than Larry," Pacers President Donnie Walsh said. "He fills a need we felt we really had to have on our team."

The Pacers went 39-43 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1989. The trade was the latest shakeup for the Warriors, who were 30-52 and missed the playoffs for the third straight year.

Last season, Mullin played 79 games and averaged 14.5 points. More importantly, though, he was injury-free for the first time in five years.

"One thing I've got going for me is the running and jumping ain't going to go away, because I never had it," he said.

Garnett rejects offer: Contract talks for Kevin Garnett took a combative turn when Garnett's agent, Eric Fleisher, said the Timberwolves' All-Star will not be with the team after the 1997-98 season. That prompted Wolves management to accuse Fleisher of threatening the "positive image" Garnett has developed during his two seasons in the NBA.

After learning Wolves owner Glen Taylor revealed in Tuesday's Minneapolis Star Tribune that Garnett had turned down a six-year, $102 million offer, Fleisher made a statement Tuesday:

"It's unfortunate that the Timberwolves have not honored their word to keep all contract negotiations strictly confidential. . . . Consequently, Kevin Garnett will not re-sign with the club after next season."

Under the NBA's collective bargaining contract that went into effect with the rookie class of 1995, all players can become free agents at the end of their third season. The Wolves would not be entitled to compensation should Garnett leave for another team.

Taylor said, "For an agent to say something like that, it seems pretty inconsistent with what he and Kevin have been saying before. . . . I don't think we'll do anything more than what we have done."

Heat-Kings trade: The Miami Heat acquired 7-foot center Duane Causwell from the Sacramento Kings for guard Gary Grant, center Matt Fish and a conditional second-round draft pick in 1999.

Shaq wins: Some NBA stars played an exhibition game Tuesday night that was so lopsided and lackadaisical that one fan yelled out, "Are you going to break a sweat, or what?"

Team Shaq, led by the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal, trounced Team Barkley, led by the Rockets' Charles Barkley, 173-146 in a game long on sloppy play and poor defense.

The fans in Tokyo Dome, an indoor stadium for Japanese baseball, paid up to $350 for courtside seats.