Mavericks Trade Rumors

" Rick Carlisle's agent said Wednesday 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. "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."

" The Mavericks and Rick Carlisle are inching closer to an agreement that would make him the team's new coach. While no deal is done, Carlisle said Tuesday that both sides continue to discuss the options about him becoming the ninth coach in franchise history. "My agent has returned from Europe, and we're still talking," Carlisle said. "We're moving in a good direction. Things are moving along." "

" The Dallas Mavericks are in no rush to find their next head coach. I know this, because three days ago, Donnie Nelson said the club would "like to show some patience." So sit back, take a deep breath and ... What? The Mavericks have already met with Rick Carlisle, flown him to Dallas and entered negotiations? My suspicions are confirmed. Mark Cuban's definition of patience is different from any other sentient being on the planet. It could be that Carlisle is such a strong candidate that the Mavericks don't feel the need to search any longer."

" If the notion of Rick Carlisle as the next Mavs coach doesn't inspire, and you hoped for someone with a title in his résumé, consider the following trivia. Question: How many coaches have won NBA championships in the last 20 years? Answer: Only six, and one of them already could have been coach of the Mavs. No, it wasn't Phil Jackson, who owns nine titles, or Gregg Popovich with four. Pat Riley has won three of the last 21 and two more besides, and Mark Cuban once considered it. But it wasn't him, either. Chuck Daly or Rudy Tomjanovich, each of whom checks in with two? No and Lord no. And that leaves us with the peripatetic Larry Brown, who just packed again, this time for Charlotte. "

" If history holds, owner Mark Cuban and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson will not be shy about trying to fill those holes. But it won't be easy. In fact, it may be a multiyear process. Creativity is going to be needed to revamp the Mavericks' roster next season. Seven players, all of whom were in Johnson's rotation, are under contract for next season, with an eighth, Eddie Jones, able to exercise his player option for a guaranteed year. Those veterans put the Mavericks over the salary cap – way over, by about $23 million. They have no first-round draft pick. "

" The Dallas Mavericks are in no rush to find their next head coach. I know this, because three days ago, Donnie Nelson said the club would "like to show some patience." So sit back, take a deep breath and ... What? The Mavericks have already met with Rick Carlisle, flown him to Dallas and entered negotiations? My suspicions are confirmed. Mark Cuban's definition of patience is different from any other sentient being on the planet. "

"Do the Mavericks need to blow up the roster? They already have. In February, they traded 27 percent of their roster and two future No. 1 picks in a package for Jason Kidd. NBA rules prevent teams from trading No. 1 picks in consecutive years. Dallas does not have picks in 2008 and 2010, so the first pick they can trade is 2012. Right now, that pick has little value. Still, major changes will be made. The Mavericks have eight players under contract for next year, but it is doubtful they will keep Eddie Jones, who will be 37 in October."

"Yes, Johnson will be in high demand, sought by the Knicks and Bulls and perhaps even the Warriors, should he decide to take a year off and succeed Nelson (just as he did in Dallas three years ago). Then again, he was finished with the Mavericks. He had a 23-24 playoff record, losing the last nine on the road. You can't imagine how that feels until you've experienced the seething Mark Cuban, sitting courtside just a few feet behind you. In that sense, getting fired is a huge break for Johnson, who was treated well (financially) by Cuban but doesn't need any more of that malarkey."

"The Dallas Mavericks appear to have a crush on Rick Carlisle as their next coach. And the feeling may be mutual. After a couple of meetings, both sides said Saturday that talks are ongoing between the team and the prospective coach, which means negotiations could be under way. "I've had two great visits with Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson over the last couple of days," Carlisle said. "This obviously is an impressive organization." "

"Rick Carlisle won't be reunited with former boss Donnie Walsh with the Knicks. Sources told The Post last night that the former Pacer and Piston coach, who interviewed with Walsh for the Knick coaching job Wednesday, has agreed to terms with the Mavericks to replace Avery Johnson. "

"An NBA source said D'Antoni is first on Dallas' wish list to replace Johnson. Chicago and New York also might be interested in D'Antoni, but Kerr said he would not grant permission to a team seeking to talk to D'Antoni. Kerr's sole focus is to find common ground with D'Antoni about how the team can be improved, particularly on defense, with him as coach. "

" Rick Carlisle, a former coach with the Indiana Pacers and Pistons, remains at or near the top of the list of candidates, the NBA source said. The Mavericks were working on lining up interviews Thursday but had not solidified any meetings."

"Speculation over Pistons coach Flip Saunders is at a fever pitch. Numerous NBA writers are speculating about the status of the Pistons' embattled coach. One report has the Dallas Mavericks, who fired Avery Johnson Wednesday, interested. Another has the Bulls interested in Pistons assistant Michael Curry."

"Avery Johnson's name has been added to the Knicks' ever-growing list of coaching candidates. A source close to Donnie Walsh said the Knicks' president is targeting several head coaches and assistant coaches of playoff teams to interview but that he will not make contact with any of them until their respective seasons end. Johnson, though, became available yesterday, when he was fired less than 24 hours after the Dallas Mavericks were eliminated by New Orleans in five games. "

"This is what Knick president Donnie Walsh was waiting for. The Knick coaching search revved up yesterday as Dallas fired Avery Johnson and the Suns reportedly planned to ax Mike D'Antoni. The developments gave lead candidate Mark Jackson serious competition, with Walsh interested in talking to Johnson and D'Antoni, if the latter becomes available, according to sources. The news justifies Walsh's decision not to rush into hiring Jackson, with three Coach of the Year winners, including Raptor coach Sam Mitchell, possibly on the market, too. "

"Avery Johnson was fired by the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, and Mike D’Antoni clung loosely to his job in Phoenix — their fates underscoring that success is no guarantee of security for N.B.A. head coaches. The Mavericks fired Johnson a day after his team was eliminated from the playoffs by the New Orleans Hornets. The Suns also lost their first-round series, to the San Antonio Spurs, amid widespread reports that D’Antoni would be replaced."

"The Dallas Mavericks parted company with coach Avery Johnson on Wednesday, a day following the team's first-round exit from the NBA playoffs, ESPN.com has learned. Speculation about Johnson's future with the franchise had been mounting for weeks, ever since Dallas struggled to reach the playoffs as the seventh seed following its midseason acquisition of point guard Jason Kidd from New Jersey. "

"If indeed Avery Johnson was a lame duck coaching, he didn't act like it Tuesday night. The former St. Augustine High School standout worked the sidelines in Game 5 against the Hornets at the New Orleans Arena with the zeal that helped him earn an NBA championship ring as a player and a Coach of the Year award. "

" Johnson's annual problem with point guards isn't the only reason he'll lose his job sometime soon. He lost this team even before his players called a players-only practice the day before they were eliminated by the Hornets. He'll lose his job because he told the owner he could get the most out of Erick Dampier."

" The end wasn't pretty. New Orleans clearly was the better team in this first-round series, winning three games by 12 or more points. Tuesday's 99-94 loss at New Orleans Arena sent the Mavericks into the playoff night, four games to one, and intensified speculation about the future of head coach Avery Johnson."

" Then Mark Cuban can spend the off-season blowing up this team that has a penchant for quitting. Did you forget its 25-point loss to Golden State in the final game of the first-round loss last season? Perhaps Cuban will fire Avery Johnson. Maybe he'll deal Josh Howard. Or Jason Terry. "

" Friday might not have been the beginning of the end for Josh Howard as a Maverick. It may have come a week before or nearly a year earlier. But when the Mavericks forward used a local radio show to detail his off-season marijuana use for the second time in a week and third time in a year, he certainly made his future cloudier. "

"If the Mavericks lose this series to New Orleans – and they're well on their way to doing so – Mark Cuban must decide whether Avery Johnson can lead his team to a championship. A few months ago, the question would've been laughable. These days, it's legitimate. "

"If Walsh waits long enough, the field of qualified candidates could grow in the coming weeks as teams are eliminated from the playoffs. Dallas Coach Avery Johnson could be in jeopardy if the Mavericks lose their first-round series to the New Orleans Hornets. The same goes for Flip Saunders in Detroit and Sam Mitchell in Toronto... Walsh could reach out to three other assistant coaches who interviewed in Indiana last year: Brian Shaw of the Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person of the Sacramento Kings and Johnny Davis, a former Pacers assistant now with the Memphis Grizzlies."

"Sam Cassell was in his hometown of Baltimore yesterday, preparing to travel to Boston once he clears waivers tonight at 6. Soon thereafter, the point guard is expected to join former teammates Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen as the final piece of general manager Danny Ainge's extreme makeover of the Celtics. Cassell's agent, David Falk, said yesterday he expects no last-minute surprises or new entries into the Sam Sweepstakes, such as, perhaps, Dallas owner Mark Cuban."

"The Mavericks still are hoping to fill the 15th spot on their roster, and veteran guard Tyronn Lue has surfaced as a possibility."

"The decision to cut Jeff McInnis on Friday was about the Charlotte Bobcats finding out once and for all what kind of point guard Raymond Felton is... Kauffman wouldn't discuss possible destinations for McInnis, but two informed sources say Dallas and Golden State might have interest."

"Point guard Sam Cassell's contract was bought out by the Los Angeles Clippers in time for him to be eligible to sign with another team and be included on the playoff roster. It appears Cassell is headed to Boston, but that doesn't mean the Mavericks aren't holding out hope. "

" The Mavericks still have one roster spot available and are holding that open in case either Brent Barry or Sam Cassell agrees to join them."

" The Dallas Mavericks have made their pitch to Brent Barry. And Jamaal Magloire. And probably Justin Williams and another free agent or two. Soon to come: Perhaps a run at Sam Cassell. "

"With two roster spots that need to be filled by Saturday, the Mavericks are in the hunt for a big man and a 3-point ace named Brent Barry. The Spurs traded Barry to Seattle for added inside muscle in Kurt Thomas and the Sonics cut him."

"Of all the centers who might make sense for the Mavericks to pick up, one name that makes even more sense is Brent Barry. OK, so he's not a center. But he is one of the best 3-point shooters in the game, and the Mavericks – like a half-dozen or so teams – have looked into acquiring him. "

" Jamaal Magloire was waived Friday by the Nets, and if he clears waivers he could be No. 1 on the Mavericks' list... Others on the watch list include Justin Williams (waived by Sacramento) and Viktor Khryapa (waived by Chicago)."

"Could the Mavs add a fourth Net to the roster? New Jersey waived 7-foot center Jamaal Magloire on Friday. The Mavs have two open roster spots, and backup center is a priority after losing DeSagana Diop in the Jason Kidd trade."

" The more likely scenario is that the Mavericks will watch the waiver wire and perhaps give a call to somebody like veteran 6-11 forward/center Dale Davis, who has been semi-retired in the Keith Van Horn mold."

"It is more likely that the Mavericks might pick up a player who has been waived. One possibility is 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward Justin Williams, who was released by Sacramento after the Kings traded Mike Bibby to Atlanta for four players."

"The trade sending New Jersey's Jason Kidd to the Mavericks for Devin Harris and others is on schedule to be reviewed Tuesday by NBA executives, who must approve the deal. But there is one potential snag – the league must be convinced of Keith Van Horn's willingness to resume his playing career. "

"Devin Harris boarded a flight at 7:05 this morning. Destination: New Jersey, as the new point guard for the Nets."

"Jason Kidd was a no-show at Nets practice Monday, but he was still officially a member of the team. Kidd, Malik Allen and Antoine Wright were excused by Coach Lawrence Frank, who said it made sense to hold them out of practice considering the possibility that all three or a combination of the three could be traded."

"The Jason Kidd Era in New Jersey should end today. And they really mean it this time. Just don't confuse it with last week, when it really looked like the Kidd Era was going to end but didn't. Or this weekend, when it looked like it was over and wasn't. But with the last glitch apparently cleared, the deal should be finalized today. "

"It looks as if the Jason Kidd era finally will end Tuesday for the Nets. After having one trade proposal fall through and another come close to suffering the same fate, the Nets and Mavericks nailed down an agreement Monday night that should have the future Hall of Fame point guard in a Dallas uniform by tonight. "

"For the second time in less than a week, the Dallas Mavericks are on the verge of bringing point guard Jason Kidd back to Dallas. This time, the deal appears to be free of any sticking points. "

"Shortly before being introduced as a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Stars, Jason Kidd's return to the Mavericks for a run at the Western Conference championship was finally being sealed. After protracted negotiations and some bizarre twists that had foiled the original deal to send Kidd to Dallas, the Mavs and New Jersey Nets reached a new agreement in principle Sunday evening, according to a front-office league source."

"While Kidd helped lead the Eastern Conference to a 134-128 victory on the New Orleans Arena court, his fate was being decided in the stands above. The Nets and the Mavericks were busily reconstructing a trade that would send Kidd to Dallas. All indications were that a deal was close, although Kidd would not allow himself to get excited just yet."

"But once again, the Nets and Mavericks are imminently close to completing a deal that sends Jason Kidd to Dallas. They have an agreement in principle but still need league approval after some creative re-arranging. The deal is expected to be forwarded to the league today."

"The on-again, off-again trade with Jason Kidd is back on. The Nets and Mavericks, who saw their deal of last week fall apart, have reached a new agreement that could be sealed Monday, sources confirmed Sunday night. "

"In limbo might be the best way to characterize a deal that appeared completed Wednesday night before George shocked both sides by blocking it. The Mavs were prepared to send Devin Harris, George, Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop and Maurice Ager, plus $3 million and two draft picks to the Nets for Kidd and Malik Allen. That proposal not surprisingly, Cuban said, is dead."

"The Mavericks and New Jersey Nets aren't happy about the way the Jason Kidd fiasco has evolved. Now you can include the NBA in the grumpy group. Commissioner David Stern said that both teams "have been spoken to" about how the negotiations for the proposed trade of Kidd to the Mavericks have transpired. "

"Nets president Rod Thorn said he's not very optimistic the Jason Kidd deal to Dallas will happen and said he's working "on other things.""

"Mavs owner Mark Cuban tells me he's still trying to acquire Kidd, but there may be too many obstacles to circumvent, er, navigate. Like inducing Van Horn to come out of self-imposed exile."