After 13 years, Rick Carlisle and the Dallas Mavericks have parted ways. What comes next?
Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs, Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat, and last but not the least, Rick Carlisle and the Dallas Mavericks.
For over a decade – well over for one of the aforementioned – the trio seemed untouchable in the NBA. Outside of one strange year in 2016-17 at least one coach is let go at the end of each season, occasionally the transaction occurs during the season, but this trio had strong job security.
It always seemed the big three among NBA coaching standards would be with their respective clubs until they, not the franchise, decided otherwise. On Thursday afternoon, June 27, 21, the unthinkable transpired. Rick Carlisle did just that and walked away from Mark Cuban and the Mavericks.
Mark Cuban to ESPN: “I truly love Rick Carlisle. He was not only a good coach but also a friend and a confidant. Our relationship was so much more than basketball. And I know that won’t ever change."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 17, 2021
Until recently, this news would have been fall on the floor shocking. While this still came as a slight surprise, it was almost somewhat expected to see some sort of shake-up in Big D after a somewhat scandalous article was posted on The Athletic (subscription required) last week.
The article revealed and explored problems rooted deep within the Mavericks front office stemming from team executive Haralabos Voulgaris. The piece unveiled Carlisle was not even in full control of his rotations, that Voulgaris would at times set the starting lineup. That is an egregious problem.
Anytime power begins to be taken away from a head coach, that is a serious problem. Because if the front office losses trust in a head coach, how are the players expected to have faith in the same coach?
What happened with Carlisle was a complete disgrace and he deserves better, for this reason, it is unsurprising he got out after this season. This was not a bad time to become available on the market because there are several head-coaching positions open and Carlisle will have his pick of the pen if he wants it.
In today’s NBA, the players have all the power. It will be interesting what happens with Luka Doncic. First Dallas lost their general manager, then coach Carlisle. Will their 22-year-old superstar be next? As for Carlisle, do not underestimate the power held by one of the league’s most well-respected coaches.