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Rick Carlisle's agent said Wednesday an agreement for Carlisle to become the new Mavericks coach should be completed today and he is expected to be announced as the franchise's ninth head coach Friday.
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"We're headed for a successful landing, I believe, in the next day or so," agent Warren LeGarie said.
Carlisle, 48, was the only candidate to interview for the position. The Mavericks were drawn to his passion for defense, a part of the foundation left from the Avery Johnson era management did not want to lose.
Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said while a contract has not been finalized, negotiations are proceeding well. Essentially, talks are on the 1-yard line. All that's left is to punch it into the end zone.
Carlisle will be starting his third NBA coaching job, having led Detroit for two seasons and Indiana for four.
The contract is believed to be for four years and might include some incentives. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban still owes Johnson for three seasons, though that would change if Johnson takes another head coaching position.
Carlisle will inherit a team that has been to the playoffs eight consecutive seasons but is coming off back-to-back first-round knockouts. He, Cuban and Nelson will have plenty of holes to fill on a roster that has eight players under contract for next season -- Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, Erick Dampier, Eddie Jones and Brandon Bass.
Carlisle amassed a 281-211 record and reached the conference finals twice in his six seasons with the Pistons and Pacers. His teams were known for their hard-nosed style, and he has a reputation as a strong motivator. He worked this season for ESPN.
Carlisle is expected to bring his own crew of assistant coaches, though Paul Westphal, Joe Prunty, Mario Elie and Popeye Jones all have one more year on their contracts. Former NBA head coaches Dwane Casey and Terry Stotts have been mentioned as possible targets for Carlisle's staff.
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