Carlisle Becomes Mavericks' Head Coach

[MapleLeaf]

From realgm.com

Sources have told the New York Post that the 2001-02 Coach of the Year Rick Carlisle has agreed to terms to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks .

Carlisle had previously interviewed with Chicago and New York, with the Knicks' interview coming only on Wednesday, before Dallas quickly swooped and hired the former Piston and Pacer coach.

Dallas fired Avery Johnson only on Wednesday after the Mavericks fell in the first round for the second consecutive season, this time to the New Orleans Hornets.

IDK yet, I've heard he's a controlling guy over his teams, but not as much as Avery was. I just hope he lets "KIDDDIRK" play there style and open a bit more. Let Kidd run this team.

IDK yet though. Don't know much about him

 

[RipCity32]

If you want a coach who can bring you a title, Carslie is not the man. Pistons could never get over the hump until we got Brown, always got romped by the Nets in the ECF.

Cuban continues to display his bad managment skills IMO.

 

[Pugz]

He could help, but like Rip said he can't get over the hump. Maybe he changed and will let Kidd run the team..Who knows, right now I'm not saying this is bad but I'm also not saying it's good.

 

[RipCity32]

They should of waited a little bit, see if any other people got fired, ala D'Antoni.

 

[DJT]

Eh to me I think Carlisle would be their coach. Even a couple of days ago. I just looked at him, and I was like I see a Mavs coach.

 

[utexas1007]

This isn't true yet. There have been reports that he is most likely to be the next coach, but there hasn't been any agreeing to terms. He's been interviewed though.

This was posted today almost 2 hours ago on ESPN.com

Sources: Carlisle is front-runner for Mavs head coaching gig
by Marc Stein

Rick Carlisle wasn't just the first candidate to interview for the Dallas Mavericks' four-day-old coaching vacancy.

Carlisle has quickly established himself as the likely successor to Avery Johnson after being flown to Dallas for a second interview, according to NBA coaching sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that Carlisle met with Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson on Thursday in Indianapolis and then traveled to Texas on Friday to meet directly with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. As part of Friday's agenda, sources said, Carlisle also had an introductory meeting with Mavs franchise forward Dirk Nowitzki.

Rick Carlisle

Carlisle

"We've had an extremely productive meeting with Rick," Nelson said Saturday. "He's got a wealth of basketball knowledge. We're very impressed with him, but the process is ongoing."

Multiple sources close to the process have described Carlisle as the Mavs' clear-cut No. 1 candidate, indicating that contract negotiations are already underway. It's also believed that Carlisle intends to bring two recent NBA head coaches to Dallas as assistants on his staff -- Dwane Casey and Terry Stotts -- but one team source insisted: "Nothing is done with anyone."

Neither Cuban nor Carlisle could immediately be reached for comment.

ESPN.com reported Thursday that Nelson was Cuban's first choice to replace Johnson, 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."

But Carlisle is the only one of five candidates on the Mavericks' A-list who is definitely available. And it appears Cuban is not inclined to wait to see if head coach Mike D'Antoni can extricate himself from Phoenix as expected or if Detroit elects to part company with Flip Saunders.

The only other name currently on Cuban's radar is Jeff Van Gundy, who, like Carlisle, has been working as an ESPN analyst this season. But Van Gundy insisted again Friday that he's "not interested in coaching anywhere [next season] due to family reasons." Van Gundy added that Dallas has not contacted him, although it is well known Cuban is a Van Gundy fan and vice versa.

If Carlisle does strike a deal with Cuban, questions will inevitably be raised about his coaching style and demeanor, which critics are bound to liken to the conservative, demanding Johnson. But Carlisle, 48, would also appear to offer the best blend of offensive and defensive pedigree after posting a record of 281-211 (.571) in stints at Detroit and Indiana. Mavericks management -- and Nowitzki -- have described that as a priority in recent days.

After serving as an offensive coordinator of sorts for Larry Bird with the Indiana Pacers during Bird's strong three-season stint as Pacers coach from 1997-98 through 1999-2000 -- which included a trip to the 2000 NBA Finals -- Carlisle won NBA Coach of the Year honors in his first season in Detroit in 2001-02. He posted consecutive 50-32 records before the Pistons replaced him with Larry Brown. Carlisle moved to the Pacers and went 61-21 in his first season before losing in the conference finals to Brown during Detroit's 2004 championship run. He then guided the Pacers to two more playoff bids in spite of seemingly constant off-court turmoil and injury which followed Indiana's infamous brawl in Detroit in November 2004.

Carlisle has also interviewed with the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks. The meeting with the Knicks and new team president Donnie Walsh -- Carlisle's former Indiana boss -- happened this week as well, according to a Friday report by the New York Post's Peter Vecsey. In Saturday's editions, Vecsey reported that Carlisle has already agreed to terms with the Mavericks, which Dallas disputes.

Ex-Knicks guard Mark Jackson, also an ESPN analyst, remains the consensus favorite to land the Knicks' job. Jackson has likewise interviewed with Chicago, but Johnson is expected to be summoned for interviews by both the Knicks and Bulls. ESPN.com also reported Friday that Chicago is the most likely landing spot for D'Antoni if he and the Suns do part ways.

Back in Dallas, this is the first time Cuban -- for all of his perceived volatility -- has fired a coach and the first time he's 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.

Yet it looks as though Cuban is prepared to move quicker than anyone expected, even though giving such a big job to someone he knows well -- as he generally likes to do in his businesses -- would only be possible this time if Donnie Nelson changed his mind and asked for his clipboard back.

Although he was once a hot-shot coaching prospect before his full-time move to the front office when Johnson took over as head coach, Nelson insists that's not an option.

"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."

 

[Mexi]

at least he's off TV. this guy annoys me

 

[VC3]

Avery Johnson joins Warriors as assistant coach.

LOL

 

[DJT]

Its official.

Sources: Carlisle, Mavs reach agreement on 4-year deal
The Dallas Mavericks and Rick Carlisle reached a verbal agreement Friday night on a four-year coaching contract, ESPN.com has learned.

A look at the professional coaching record of Rick Carlisle, who has reportedly agreed to become the Mavericks coach:

Regular Season Year Team W-L Pct
2001-02 Pistons 50-32 .610
2002-03 Pistons 50-32 .610
2003-04 Pacers 61-21 .744
2004-05 Pacers 44-38 .537
2005-06 Pacers 41-41 .500
2006-07 Pacers 35-47 .427
Totals: 281-211 .571
Postseason Year Team W-L Pct
2001-02 Pistons 4-6 .400
2002-03 Pistons 8-9 .471
2003-04 Pacers 10-6 .625
2004-05 Pacers 6-7 .462
2005-06 Pacers 2-4 .333
Totals: 30-32 .484

Although a news conference to introduce Carlisle as Avery Johnson's successor is now considered unlikely before Wednesday, according to sources close to the process, Carlisle and the Mavericks ended two days of slow-moving talks late Friday by coming to terms on a deal that is believed to worth at least $4 million annually.

Carlisle arrived in Dallas on Thursday with his family with the expectation of a Friday news conference. He was joined in Big D by the two former NBA head coaches -- Dwane Casey and Terry Stotts -- who will be assistants on Carlisle's first staff with the Mavericks.

It appeared the sides would go into the weekend with no deal when an accord was reached shortly before 11 p.m. ET.

Carlisle has a career record of 281-211 after two seasons in Detroit, then four in Indiana. He was coach of the year his first season with the Pistons, went to conference finals in consecutive years -- with different teams -- and made the playoffs every year until his last. He worked as an analyst for ESPN the last year.

In Dallas, he would take over a team that's won at least 50 games and made the playoffs the last eight years. The Mavs were in the Finals in 2006 and won 67 games in '07, but lost in the first round of the playoffs then and again this year.

The roster he inherits includes Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, plus returning starters Josh Howard, Erick Dampier and Jason Terry.

 

[AirForceFlash_3]

IMO, not an improvement over Avery at all. Maybe he will play the younger guys more, but he just doesn't seem as good as Avery. Heck, maybe he'll prove me wrong, Mavs better hope he does. But, right now, unless the Mavs can get some more depth and young guys on the team, they won't be going far either way.

 

[dez]

Yea, if he lets Kidd play the game he plays, the Mavs should be alright.

But with the West as tough as it is, and with Carlisle's history in the playoffs, this isnt an improvement over Johnson at all.

 

[loopydude3]

I think its a good move considering the experienced coaches or lack there of available. Detroit should have kept him and they'd be better off now than with Choke Saunders as the coach.

 

[-Torres-]

I think Carlisle will do a good job, he's not a bad coach

 

[DJT]

I think he will do pretty good to. Plus he looks like a Mavs coach.