Mavs give Carlisle a four-year deal as coach

[horse900703]

Mavs give Carlisle a four-year deal as coach
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Dallas Mavericks and Rick Carlisle reached a verbal agreement on a four-year coaching contract Friday night that seals his hiring as Avery Johnson's successor.

Although a news conference to introduce Carlisle as the Mavericks' new coach won't happen until Wednesday, Carlisle and the Mavs ended two days of slow-moving negotiations late Friday by coming to terms on a deal that is believed to be worth just over $4 million annually, according to sources close to the process.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban confirmed the deal in an e-mail to The Associated Press, saying that the contract "will be signed" Saturday.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3389463

[Darth Ape]

Odds of Carlisle finishing those four years?

[Bookit]

Originally Posted by Darth Ape

Odds of Carlisle finishing those four years?

Odds that 75% of all coaches in the NBA will be coaching with the same team in four years?

[Burn this City]

Odds that Jerry Sloan will be the only guy coaching the same team 4 years from now?

[mavsjunkie]

Congrats to the new coach, I will give him every opportunity to succeed as we all should and not jump to any conclusions over the 1st year.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by Darth Ape

Odds of Carlisle finishing those four years?

Yeah, seriously. It seems like Cuban fires a coach more often than Steinbrenner.

[Underdog]

Four years? The rest of Dirk's prime is in the hands of Carlisle - he better not pull an "Avery!"

[Dtownsfinest]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Four years? The rest of Dirk's prime is in the hands of Carlisle - he better not pull an "Avery!"

Yea when you think about it Carlisle is gonna be Dirk's last coach while he's still in his prime. Hope he's the answer. Not for Dirk but for the team. Dirk's going to be okay I just hope his prime isn't waisted on 1st round exits.

[foglemann]

Welcome over Rick, hope you don't micromanage the team, go away from your superstar, and always through you team under the bus.

Side note: Rick looks like the most conventional/experienced coach the Mavs have had in a very, very long time. Nellie was great, but he was the mad scientist and we gave Avery the job without any experience. I think this is a good hire and hopefully a third time is the charm for Charlisle.

[Pj5]

This is definitely a good hire. Great way to start of the offseason.

[Caseman]

Originally Posted by foglemann

Welcome over Rick, hope you don't micromanage the team, go away from your superstar, and always through you team under the bus.

Side note: Rick looks like the most conventional/experienced coach the Mavs have had in a very, very long time. Nellie was great, but he was the mad scientist and we gave Avery the job without any experience. I think this is a good hire and hopefully a third time is the charm for Charlisle.

Dude, that's what he does. The only difference is that he's good at it.

[frozenking]

man ive been a huge calile fan since his 60 win season with the pacers, and every year he exceeded the expectations of fans by taking very sorry teams to above average records, hes a great coach who can win with less, all he needs is freedom(from mark altho im a huge mark fan).

[Tokey41]

VICTORY!

[nashtymavsfan13]

Sounds good to me, I like the signing a lot. Rick sounds like the best guy out there, and I'm glad they got this done.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by frozenking

all he needs is freedom(from mark altho im a huge mark fan).

I don't think he held Avery accountable enough.

[ghazi]

All I want is a title!

[mqywaaah]

So, what could be Rick's plan for the Mavs this offseason? Ideas?

[purplefrog]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Four years? The rest of Dirk's prime is in the hands of Carlisle - he better not pull an "Avery!"

I agree. And I think this hire + Dirk's prime is all on Donnie Nelson. Dirk and Cuban wanted him as the next coach to guide Dirk through these years. Donnie said 'No' there are better candidates out there. He picked Carlisle without interviewing any other candidates. I think Donnie is on the hot seat with this hire and let's all hope he hit a home run.

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by mqywaaah

So, what could be Rick's plan for the Mavs this offseason? Ideas?

Hopefully we'll hear some of it at the press conference. BUT, we can't really take that as the honest word. Maybe after the press conference, we hear what Stein has to say. He's really the filter for the Mavs Brain Trust.

[MavsX]

good job horse

[Re-Dirk-ulous]

When you go to mavs.com, you're treated to a Coach Carlisle introductory screen. It reads:

INTRODUCING COACH CARLISLE

Rick Carlisle didn't waste any time getting to work ... even if he didn't have the job just yet. The 48-year-old coach ran his first practice in, of all places, Dirk Nowitzki's living room.

Carlisle's tour of the Mavericks with influence last week took him to the home of last year's MVP. While discussing strategy and his vision, Carlisle got Nowitzki off up the couch for an impromptu demonstration of Larry Bird post-up moves. Somewhat odd? Sure, but Nowitzki appreciated the enthusiasm.

So did everyone else. The search for the ninth coach in club history targeted Carlisle from the start and as the process progressed, it became apparent the search would be one and done.

http://www.nba.com/mavericks/news/CoachCarlisle.html

LOL @ got Dirk off the couch for an impromptu demonstartion of Larry Bird post-up moves

[sike]

Originally Posted by Re-Dirk-ulous

When you go to mavs.com, you're treated to a Coach Carlisle introductory screen. It reads:



LOL @ got Dirk off the couch for an impromptu demonstartion of Larry Bird post-up moves

it could be worse...at least they weren't Popeye Jones post up moves... (all love to Popeye)

[vashjan]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

Yeah, seriously. It seems like Cuban fires a coach more often than Steinbrenner.

that is such an ignorant statement........he has only fired 1 coach you moron.

[vashjan]

i think Carlisle will be good for Mavs. I think he will utilize the talents he has instead of making this team look like some other team. That is what I didn't like about Avery, he tried to make Dirk like Duncan and make harris like TP..you have make use of your players talents, and enhance them by learning about their strengths, weaknesses and tendencies. It is human nature to rebel if you are asked to be like someone else..you want to be who you are..

That is why in making moves this summer, you would want to get players who want to play defense and not just transform players to play defense and have a good balance of offensive players too. that is the hardest thing to do in the NBA.

[purplefrog]

Is there reason to be a bit cynical of Mavs management hiring Rick Carlisle as the the next head coach? I think so, and here's why. If you look at the series of events leading up to the $17.5M for 4 years contract, here are the facts. The Mavs fire Avery within a day or so of the last playoff game. Cuban and Dirk both say they would like Donnie Nelson to take over, but he says "no thanks". Donnie and Mark proceed to hire Rick Carlisle in near record time without interviewing anyone else. One interesting/puzzling thing is that the new coach has much of the same philosophy as the one just given the boot. All of this happens very quickly and in the context of the GM stating although he doesn't want to be the next head coach, he IS on the list as a last resort. So then why hurry?? Is Carlisle so good that he is worthy of making this decisive move and thereby committing Dirk's prime years to this coach? Although I like the quick and certain decision-making it seems to me that with Donnie sitting there as a safety net AND as the favorite of all those who really matter - why hurry? And if you ask yourself "why hurry" you've got to come up with some answers that go beyond the straightforward and certain response that Carlisle really is THE BEST choice (or as Spiral says, the only choice). Here are some cynical reasons that might explain Mavs management moving decisively to hiring a coach when the favorite sits on the sideline as a last resort.

1) "We don't like our team" + Donnie's reputation - Despite the mantra coming from Donnie and Mark ("We like our team"; "This is the best Mavs team ever") the bottom line is that management sees a declining team that will be noncompetitive next year. Does Donnie want to be at the helm when the ship goes down? My guess is 'No' and can you blame him if this really is the assessment? In this scenario, Donnie is hiring Carlisle so quickly because he (Donnie) doesn't want to be one holding the short stick.

2) Cuban's money - I believe Fish reported that part of the deal with Avery was a $12M settlement that would not be honored IF Avery finds another job. If Carlisle is seriously being considered for the limited number of head coach job openings don't you want to take this guy off the market before Chicago or NY signs him? More to the point, Cuban has got to be really really really hoping that Avery gets a job pronto!

3) Carlisle the Scapegoat - This related to #1. If you really don't like your team, then the next coach is a transition coach that will serve as a scapegoat until someone else (read: better coach or better fit) is available. It seems to me that much of the local media has already decided they don't like Carlisle so it will be easy to make him the scapegoat if this team fails to compete over the next couple of years.

4) Thug it up - I'm using Galloway language here, but the point is that the Mavs image may be in need of a makeover. The national view that this team is "soft' may actually impact the players' on the court when it seems they fail to get calls at inopportune times during the game. Management may be thinking they need to shed the choir boy image of Dirk, JET, EJones, Malik Allen, etc. and start going after some more edgy guys (both on and off the court). Who better to take over a more "edgy" team than Rick Carlisle?

5) Cuban's ego - Cuban has been amazingly silent over the past couple of years. Is that because he has learned to operate more behind the scenes or was this more because Avery believed his antics hurt the team in the long run. More to the point, Avery didn't like anyone else in the organization being the center of attention. Cuban with his inflated ego can only take this so long, so part of the head coach job description is that they are low key when it comes to the media. Carlisle seems to be more of a coach who wants to simply do his job and leave the PR to others.

Do I really believe any of these are true? I don't really think they any of these scenarios were the driving force in making this decision, but it would not surprise me if they were factors to some extent. At any rate, things are a bit quiet around here so stirring the pot seems like a reasonable idea.

[Dirkadirkastan]

If Donnie doesn't want it, then we don't want Donnie.

[purplefrog]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

If Donnie doesn't want it, then we don't want Donnie.

An interesting response from a guy who is wanted by the superstar he discovered and the owner who he respects(??).

Maybe Donnie is a coward and doesn't want to be in the hot seat. Or maybe he lacks self-confidence as a coach. Or maybe he is the 'next coach' (when the ship has been righted) and doesn't want his reputation tarnished.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Exactly. Those dumb distractions, whatever they may be, are not the kind of baggage you want with the new coach.

[Dirkenstien]

I believe Donnie made this decision not to coach because he is more comfortable with the GM duties and feels he can do a better job and contribute more to this team by sticking with where he is.

He really is great at what he does, and I really like Carlise as the new coach here. He may have similarities to Avery but in my opinion he has 100X more basketball knowledge than Avery does.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Dirkenstien

He may have similarities to Avery but in my opinion he has 100X more basketball knowledge than Avery does.

Avery can't control what the ball do!

[sike]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Avery can't control what the ball do!

but darned if he didn't try!

[jacktruth]

Originally Posted by Dirkenstien

I believe Donnie made this decision not to coach because he is more comfortable with the GM duties and feels he can do a better job and contribute more to this team by sticking with where he is.

He really is great at what he does, and I really like Carlise as the new coach here. He may have similarities to Avery but in my opinion he has 100X more basketball knowledge than Avery does.

One of the comments that Donnie made about Carlisle is that his basketball IQ is out the roof. I'm pretty sure you can't say the same thing about Avery. He just doesn't have the toolbox.

[sike]

Originally Posted by jacktruth

One of the comments that Donnie made about Carlisle is that his basketball IQ is out the roof. I'm pretty sure you can't say the same thing about Avery. He just doesn't have the toolbox.

oh he has one...but it says "Tonka" on the side of it....

[bernardos70]

He doesn't have the toolbox, he IS the toolbox.

[purplefrog]

So, basically most of us are OK with entrusting the rest of Dirk's prime years with Coach Carlisle following what amounts to really no search at all AND when the favorite for the job is willing but only as a last resort. Interesting........

[sike]

Originally Posted by purplefrog

So, basically most of us are OK with entrusting the rest of Dirk's prime years with Coach Carlisle following what amounts to really no search at all AND when the favorite for the job is willing but only as a last resort. Interesting........

OR you could just assume that Donnie and Cuban knew who there man was from the outset and went and got him. Which is exactly what I would bet happened.

[ty]

Originally Posted by sike

Looks like MavsX's sig.

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by sike

OR you could just assume that Donnie and Cuban knew who there man was from the outset and went and got him. Which is exactly what I would bet happened.

I agree. The way Avery was let go so quickly implies it was premeditated and a plan was made to get their man. Once they made the choice on Avery they did their own research on who the next coach would be.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by vashjan

that is such an ignorant statement........he has only fired 1 coach you moron.

Does the eyeroll not translate? This was sarcasm.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by purplefrog

So, basically most of us are OK with entrusting the rest of Dirk's prime years with Coach Carlisle following what amounts to really no search at all AND when the favorite for the job is willing but only as a last resort. Interesting........

Well, what kind of "search" did you want them to do? "Search" implies that you go interview a bunch of candidates that might not seem like candidates to many, and see if you uncover a diamond in the rough, someone that just blows your socks off.

Well, they weren't interested in someone with no coaching experience. Neither are most Mavs fans, I don't think. If anything, THAT would have been a repeat of Avery. Hiring someone that has the same personality of Avery is not hiring and Avery clone, as some have said.

So if you're not going to do a "search, per se, then you take stock of the obvious candidates. Donnie didn't want to coach, neither did JVG. D'Antoni did not interest them. So who do you want them to interview? Paul Silas? Scott Skiles? They could have waited to see if Flip Saunder or Tom Thibeaux (I have no idea how to spell it) were available, but Carlisle is almost certainly gone by then.

As far as Donnie, I think he's smart for not taking the head coaching job. For one thing, no one has ever reported on whether Cuban still expected him to be the GM as well as coach. It would be a really strange scenario for a gm to move to coach and not remain GM, so Donnie was essentially being asked to do two jobs, and he probably didn't want to commit to that kind of workload.

Also GM is a much more stable position. Less turnover for them. It's perfectly natural to want to stay in a more stable position, I think.

I'm perfectly happy with the Carlisle hire.