Dallas Mavericks NBA 2015 news: Negotiations for Rick Carlisle's contract extension in progress

Rick Carlisle in 2011. Wikimedia Commons/Danny Bollinger

The Dallas Mavericks may not be title favorites for the past few seasons but they always find a way to contend and because of that, the organization is looking to lock head coach Rick Carlisle for five more years. 

In a report from ESPN, league sources said the Mavs are having "advanced" negotiations for a five-year extension deal to keep Carlisle at the post. 

Before coming to Dallas in 2008, Carlisle had assistant coaching stints with the New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Indiana Pacers, and head coaching jobs with the Detroit Pistons and the Pacers. 

According to ESPN, the upcoming 2015–16 season marks the final year of Carlisle's current four-year deal with the Mavericks, which is already his second pact with the team.

The 56-year-old coach has brought big success to the Mavericks and only missed the playoffs once in his seven seasons with the team and that was in the 2012–13 season.  

Carlisle's greatest achievement with the Mavericks was winning the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship during his third year as the team's head coach in the 2010–11 season. 

In that season the Mavs spoiled LeBron James' first trip to the NBA Finals with then his new team the Miami Heat. 

The Mavericks dispatched the Heat in six games to win the 2011 title with franchise star Dirk Nowitzki being named the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). 

Dallas' championship success that season made Carlisle one of only a few people in the NBA to win the title as a player and a coach. 

Now, the Mavs will try to repeat that success after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in the past three times they made it to the postseason. 

Dallas began its 2015–16 campaign on the road taking on the Phoenix Suns Wednesday at the Talking Stick Resort Arena. 

News
AI and the visual interpretation of Scripture: A new era of biblical storytelling?
AI and the visual interpretation of Scripture: A new era of biblical storytelling?

The relationship between faith and storytelling has always been central to Christianity. From the parables of Jesus to grand cinematic adaptations of biblical narratives, each generation has found new ways to bring Scripture to life. 

Report calls for standardisation and specialism in RE
Report calls for standardisation and specialism in RE

An independent review into the national curriculum for schools has highlighted the urgent need for standardised religious education (RE) across the country and greater subject specialism to ensure “mastery in the subject”. 

GP body shifts to ‘unwarranted and misleading’ neutral stance on assisted suicide despite declining support
GP body shifts to ‘unwarranted and misleading’ neutral stance on assisted suicide despite declining support

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is facing criticism after changing from its longstanding opposition to assisted suicide to a neutral stance, despite a significant reduction in support among its members for legalising the practice.

Faith leaders pray for Trump
Faith leaders pray for Trump

Faith leaders have gathered to pray for President Trump, but not everyone is happy.