Rick Carlisle interviewed by Mavs

[RenegadeLonghorn]

Mark Cuban sure didn't take long.

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.


ESPN Article

[WilyWestbrook0]

Rick Carlisle is the best available choice out there.