Mavs, Carlisle Close To Deal

????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Rick Carlisle

While nothing is imminent as of this writing, Rick Carlisle and the Dallas Mavericks, according to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News, appear to getting closer to a deal that would bring Carlisle in as the team’s next head coach; Carlisle told the News that both sides are still in discussions and no deal is done as of yet.? It has been approximately a week since Avery Johnson has been fired, yet the list of coaching candidates in Dallas is quite small, with Carlisle (no surprise there) being the leading candidate.?

I would imagine that team owner wants a coach that puts an emphasis on defense - or in this case build on the foundation already in place by Johnson; Carlisle’s calling card is his defensive teams that he had coached in the past in Indiana and Detroit.? Assuming that Carlisle is hired, the question remains: does he retain any of the Mavericks’ coaching staff?? It’s hard to say, but it is entirely possible that Johnson, once he is hired by a NBA team, will take some - if not all - of his staff with him.? That may be the biggest hurdle facing Carlisle once he assumes the reins of the team.? I wouldn’t be surprised to see an announcement from the Big D as soon as Thursday, at the earliest.