Dallas Mavericks, Carlisle agree to 4-year deal, sources say

May 11--The Mavericks finally got their man.

Rick Carlisle reached an agreement in principle with the Mavericks on a four-year contract Friday night to become the ninth coach in franchise history, sources from both sides confirmed.

The two sides had been in negotiations for a week after Carlisle became the first person to interview with the Mavericks to replace Avery Johnson. Carlisle, who has six years of NBA coaching experience at Detroit and Indiana, was the only candidate interviewed.

It is believed Carlisle's salary will be similar to what Johnson was being paid before he was fired, roughly $4 million per season. Because of numerous commitments by all parties, the news conference on Carlisle's hiring probably won't come until Wednesday.

The Mavericks were looking for a coach who would preach a balance between offense and defense, and Carlisle was their No. 1 choice in that regard. He coached some of the league's best defensive teams when he was with the Pistons and Pacers.

But he also stresses a motion offense that will be markedly different than the offensive strategies of Johnson.

The Mavericks got a coach who is well respected for his ability to work with players and not let his emotions run afoul of the greater good.

Carlisle led different teams to the Eastern Conference finals, taking Detroit there in 2003 and Indiana in '04.

Carlisle spent this season working for ESPN as an analyst after his four-year stint with the Pacers. He amassed a 281-211 regular-season record in his six NBA seasons as coach and was 30-32 in the playoffs.

It is Carlisle's demeanor that endeared him to players during his two previous coaching stints.

His best coaching job came in the 2004-05 season. He had the unfortunate task of leading the Pacers after the ugly brawl against Detroit in November of that season. His team lost 400 player games to suspensions and injuries that season, yet reached the second round of the playoffs.

That season defined what kind of coach the Mavericks are getting, said one of Carlisle's former players.