This might be the best news you get all season regarding the Mavericks, so eat it up. The team – about to commence on what will likely be a struggling, playoff-less season – is close to a five-year contract extension with head coach Rick Carlisle.
The Mavs will soon be without all-time star Dirk Nowitzki. Losing their only head coach to win a title would be doubly devastating.
ESPN is reporting that owner Mark Cuban is going to side-step his normal business philosophy and extend a contract before it runs out. Carlisle is beginning the final year of his contract and traditionally the owner likes the tension and pressure of an expiring contract to be motivation.
But in this case, he realizes how previous a proven, successful, elite head coach can be for a franchise about to be in serious rebuilding mode.
With Dallas’ third win this season Carlisle will become the franchise’s all-time winningest coach. And with Cuban’s savvy about-face, apparently Carlisle will get a chance to pad that record for years to come.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
