KEY POINTS

  • Rick Carlisle ends his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks a day after Donnie Nelson stepped down as GM
  • The exits of Nelson and Carlisle will unlikely affect Luka Doncic's contract extension
  • Jamahl Mosely is leading to replace Carlisle as Mavs head coach

The Dallas Mavericks will be in for a busy offseason after their first-round Western Conference exit.

However, the changes will not be limited to players who will come and go. With former general manager Donnie Nelson and head coach Rick Carlisle no longer around, team owner Mark Cuban will have to first find suitable replacements for the two.

The Dallas president of basketball operations recently capped his tenure with the Mavericks, a development that has allegedly left Luka Doncic upset.

A day after, the man behind the franchise’s NBA title conquest in 2011 has also followed suit.

With Nelson and Carlisle out, Cuban will now have to fill in the void before addressing the team’s needs. That includes sealing the deal with Doncic, who is due for a super-max contract extension soon.

“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," Cuban said in an official statement.

This development means that the number of NBA teams looking for a head coach has now risen to seven.

Other teams who are without a head coach as of this writing include the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards and Portland Trail Blazers.

Tied to that, Carlisle may be considered as a potential replacement for the six other clubs.

As far as Dallas is concerned, the attention is now on Doncic. There are suggestions that the exit of Nelson could factor in with contract-extension discussions, while some feel that this may not be much of a hindrance.

Doncic is eligible for a $200 million super-max contract extension. He could even ask for something bigger such as a 30% starting salary if the Slovenian guard prefers.

Rick Carlisle
May 4, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle reacts to his technical foul call against the San Antonio Spurs in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Reuters/Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

However, this may only come into focus once the Mavericks figure out their new men at the helm.

One name that is in the lead to succeed Carlisle is reportedly long-time assistant coach Jamahl Mosely.

Mosely is someone who holds a good relationship with Doncic, yet another angle that makes him a favorite to land the Mavericks’ head coaching vacancy, ESPN reported.

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