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04-30-2008, 02:35 PM #1
Avery Johnson fired
The Dallas Mavericks parted company with coach Avery Johnson on Wednesday, a day following the team's first-round exit from the NBA playoffs, ESPN.com has learned.
Speculation about Johnson's future with the franchise had been mounting for weeks, ever since Dallas struggled to reach the playoffs as the seventh seed following its midseason acquisition of point guard Jason Kidd from New Jersey.
Johnson became Mavs coach during the 2004-05 season and walks away with a 194-70 record (.735), but only a 23-24 mark in the playoffs and 3-12 in the postseason since Dallas was dismantled by Miami in the 2006 NBA Finals.
New Orleans wrapped up a 4-1 series rout of Dallas with Tuesday night's 99-94 victory.
"This is tough for me," Johnson said after the game, not specifically responding to a question about his job security but struggling to contain his disappointment after the Mavs' second straight flameout in the first round. NBA front-office offices sources told ESPN.com that both the Mavs and Johnson, feeling that a coaching change was inevitable, wanted to come to a resolution quickly so Dallas could begin interviewing candidates and Johnson could pursue another job.
The New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls have openings.
Sources close to the situation have said that Mavericks owner Mark Cuban actually considered firing Johnson before the playoffs, specifically after Cuban and Johnson engaged in an emotional argument after a March 18 home loss to the Lakers.
Cuban refused to speak with reporters after Tuesday's loss at New Orleans -- Dallas' ninth playoff defeat in a row on the road since taking a 2-0 lead in the 2006 Finals.
Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.
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04-30-2008, 02:39 PM #2
Why I dislike Cuban.............He needs to do some housecleaning on his roster! Got players saying they smoke pot maybe the reason for Dallas' early exits! Just say NO to drugs and maybe play some defense next year if they even make the playoffs that is!
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04-30-2008, 02:50 PM #3
Wow...I can't believe it!
And um.....the Knicks don't have an opening..
they hired Larry Brown!
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04-30-2008, 02:51 PM #4
Personally I think Cuban should go, not Avery.
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04-30-2008, 02:54 PM #5
The Bobcats hired Larry Brown NOT the Knicks.....just ask Micheal Jordan.....
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04-30-2008, 03:05 PM #6
LOL I'm an idiot
Not sure what I was thinking.
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04-30-2008, 03:09 PM #7
wow, what ajoke, johnson is a great coach and any team would be glad to have him. so who are they gonna get now? isiah? if thats the case, isaiah and cuban belong togethor.
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04-30-2008, 03:15 PM #8
idk im with everyone on this one too.
Its not avery's fault for trading away Devin Harris for Kidd....
To be honest, I think Devin Harris could have caused some problems for Chris Paul if he did stay with Dallas...
Just poor management decision to trade for Kidd and lose several million dollars in process...
Its funny because I think Jordan really liked Avery johnson and he was fired a day after he found a new coach for the Bobcats....bad luck for MJ i guess
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04-30-2008, 03:19 PM #9
Kobe is right. Very bad trade...but what would you expect?
The Suns had just pulled a deal for Shaq....the Mavericks HAD to do SOMETHING.
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04-30-2008, 03:57 PM #10
But then again, the Shaq deal didn't work out all that well for the suns. They were also eliminated in the first round. Personally I think they should have kept Marion, although him and Amare never really got along, marion was always good for a double/double. Plus Marion still have 10 years left, Shaq has 2-3 at the most.
Kidd is an outstanding player, but not what the Mavs needed.
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Originally Posted by blalock_collector 
