Mavericks Chaos Continues as Rick Carlisle is OUT as Head Coach!

 

Just one day after GM Donnie Nelson was let go, Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle has now left the organization after 13 years at the helm.

Rick Carlisle -- who led Dallas to the 2011 NBA championship -- informed Mavericks owner Mark Cuban today that he won't be returning as coach next season, Carlisle told ESPN. Carlisle had two years left on his contract. He spent 13 seasons as Mavericks coach.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 17, 2021

Carlisle had two years left on his contract, but informed owner Mark Cuban today that he won't be returning next season. This all comes after revelations earlier this week about an explosive rift between franchise player Luka Doncic and Cuban's righthand-man Bob Voulgaris.

Doncic was also reportedly upset at the firing of GM Nelson. This, then, could be a move that helps to smooth things over with Luka, as sources say that his relationship with Carlisle was strained. 

There had been simmering tension between Luka Doncic and Rick Carlisle that was a concern within the Mavs organization. The expectation was that he'd return next season, but he'd have been on the hot seat. https://t.co/YRJ1fwQ6GQ

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 17, 2021

In fact, Tim MacMahon of ESPN reports that Doncic is a big fan of Mavs' assistant coach Jamahl Mosely. 

Luka Doncic is a strong supporter of Mavs assistant coach Jamahl Mosley. “He’s got the things that are needed for a head coach," Doncic said after Mosely's one-game fill-in for a win over the Knicks this season. "He can be the head coach, for sure.”

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 17, 2021

Big changes in the Big D. Next up for Cuban and the Mavs: Get Doncic's name on that super max extension this summer.  

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports