Mavs interview Carlisle for coaching job

[MapleLeaf]

From espn.com

Former Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons coach Rick Carlisle was the first person to interview for the Dallas Mavericks' coaching vacancy, meeting Thursday with Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that Mavs owner Mark Cuban was not scheduled to participate in Carlisle's first interview for the job.

ESPN.com reported Thursday that Nelson was Cuban's first choice to succeed Avery Johnson as coach, but club sources say Nelson does not want to leave his personnel post and Cuban will not try to force Nelson to reconsider. In an interview Thursday with ESPN Radio's Dallas affiliate [KESN 103.3 FM], Nelson did not dispute the idea that the job would already be his if he wanted it but also insisted, "I think there's better candidates out there."

Sources say Dallas also has an interest in interviewing Jeff Van Gundy, who, like Carlisle, has been working as a TV analyst for ESPN since his last coaching job. But Van Gundy reiterated Friday he's "not interested in coaching anywhere [next season] due to family reasons." Van Gundy added that the Mavericks have not contacted him, but it is well known in Mavericks circles that Cuban is a Van Gundy fan and vice versa.

Nelson told The Dallas Morning News in Friday's editions that the Mavs would "show some patience in our search because, after the first round, there could be some very good candidates available."

Phoenix's Mike D'Antoni, Detroit's Flip Saunders and Washington's Eddie Jordan have all been mentioned as Dallas candidates under those circumstances, although there have been no indications that either Saunders or Jordan is facing an immediate threat to their current jobs.

D'Antoni was scheduled to meet with Suns president Steve Kerr and owner Robert Sarver on Friday, with D'Antoni's departure from the Suns widely expected. ESPN.com reported Friday that Chicago is D'Antoni's most likely landing spot if he leaves the Suns, although Dallas and the New York Knicks have strong interest as well.

Carlisle, meanwhile, also interviewed with the Knicks and new team president Donnie Walsh this week, according to a Friday report by the New York Post's Peter Vecsey. Another ESPN analyst -- former Knicks guard Mark Jackson -- remains the consensus favorite to land the Knicks' job.

Forecasting the outcome of the search for Johnson's successor in Dallas, however, is considerably tougher. For all of Cuban's perceived volatility, this is the first time he has fired a coach and the first time he is considering external candidates.

Cuban inherited Don Nelson as a coach when he assumed ownership control of the Mavs in January 2000 and ultimately gave Nelson two contract extensions after they hit it off in those first few months together. Cuban then targeted Johnson as Nelson's replacement when Johnson was still a player and assistant coach, repeatedly observing Johnson's ability to lead and motivate from his daily seat in close proximity to the Dallas bench. Don Nelson, furthermore, asked out more than he was pushed out in March 2005.

But giving this big job to someone he knows that well, as he likes to do in all of his businesses, doesn't seem possible for Cuban this time. Not unless Donnie Nelson -- formerly a hot-shot coaching prospect before his full-time move to the front office when Johnson took over as head coach -- unexpectedly changes his mind and asks for his clipboard back.

"My job is to get the best guy that we can get out there," Donnie Nelson said in his radio interview. "I'm on the list. I'm just the last guy and hopefully it doesn't get to that. ... I'm saying we'd have to get through a very, very long list in order for [Donnie Nelson to coach the team] and don't look for it to happen."

I really hope this doesn't come true......... Carlisle let his players play with as much freedom as Avery did.....very little. But IDK, I really didn't pay attention to him in Indiana so I really don't know too much about him. LOL

 

[Pugz]

Well if the Pistons fire Flip...You guys can have him.

 

[A.E]

Exactly who I thought Cuban would go after. I have to figure one of the three things will happen with this job opening:

1. Cubs hires Rick Carlisle
2. (Assuming) Mike D'Antoni is fired, he is hired by Cuban, and Avery ends up coaching Phoenix
3. Larry Brown quits as head coach of Charlotte & is payed a hefty salary to wind up in Dallas

 

[DJT]

Exactly who I thought Cuban would go after. I have to figure one of the three things will happen with this job opening:

1. Cubs hires Rick Carlisle
2. (Assuming) Mike D'Antoni is fired, he is hired by Cuban, and Avery ends up coaching Phoenix
3. Larry Brown quits as head coach of Charlotte & is payed a hefty salary to wind up in Dallas

Hmmm well I don't see how or why the Cubs would hire Carlisle. 2 could happen, but I would see Avery probably going to Chicago. And no way will Brown quit so early maybe mid season.

 

[MapleLeaf]

I think that if the Wizards lose tonight.... Cuban should look at Eddie Jordan. He looks like someone who could do a good job with our team.

 

[VC3]

its not the coach for the mavs. its ur cursed team. you guys need a big change and a new era... dirk/kidd does not cut it. too soft.

I mean...u guys got whomped by the Hornets this year and WARRIORS last year. How sad.

 

[DJT]

Dirk and Kidd to soft hahaha no way. But yea, they do need to make some changes.