Rick's The Pick

   The man handed the keys to KIDDIRK is not going to be allowed to slow down the Mavs’ pace.

   ITEM: Why did Dallas feel obliged to move so quickly on this? This’ll take a few items. …

   ITEM: Upon further investigation, it was decided that the soon-to-depart-Phoenix Mike D’Antoni wasn’t a fit here. “He doesn’t even have a defensive system,’’ one NBA source tells us. And even his brilliant offensive style is not perfect fit with where the Mavs want to go with Dirk Nowitzki.

   One more D’Antoni oddity (and this allows Mavs-lovin' Mike Dan Tony haters to keep spewing venom): We’re told the Mavs were concerned that he “would come with an entourage.’’ We’re not quite sure what that means,  but we’ll guess: He’s got a lot of brothers, cousins, aunts and other relatives who want jobs.

   ITEM: What about Jeff Van Gundy? “He doesn’t even have an offensive system,’’ says the same source, and in fact, in inner-NBA circles, JVG is known to joke that he’s “proud’’ to be inadequate on offensive X’s-and-O’s.

   Also, the Mavs knew a month ago that Van Gundy was intent on passing on any job offers and sincere about wanting to stay in TV in order to spend time with the family. Still, they view him as one of the finest all-around coaches in the world, period.

   One more JVG note, from ESPN’s Marc Stein: Cuban and JVG are fans of each other. So maybe some year in the future. …?

   ITEM: Washington’s Eddie Jordan? The reason we put him on our speculative list a week ago is he’s a “Kidd guy,’’ which did indeed make him a Mavs consideration. And he’s much easier to get alone with that Carlisle, according to a source who knows both men well. But he is not a strong defensive coach. And, most problematic: He may or may not leave the Wizards.

    ITEM: A meaningful sidebar: Carlisle was involved in two Mavs interviews in three days. Meanwhile, his former Indy boss, Donnie Walsh, interviewed Carlisle for the Knicks’ job. Our source close to Walsh says, however, that Carlisle was never going to be a serious candidate in NYNew York Knicks .

   Nevertheless, the Mavs are convinced that had they not snapped up Carlisle quickly, he would have landed a job elsewhere.

   ITEM:  Which brings us back to Flip.

   All things considered, Saunders was in a sense Dallas’ top candidate. If the Pistons were to flop in the postseason, Flip could come available.

   Had the timing been right, Dallas would then have tried to hire him.

   But what if the Pistons go to the Finals? What if they win the title? How would Detroit justify releasing him then?

   So add it up: 1. Van Gundy doesn’t want to coach this year. 2. The Family D’Antoni is not the right fit. 3. Jordan might not be available. 4. Flip might not be available. 5. If you wait on Flip and/or Jordan, and they remain in your cities, and as you’re waiting Carlisle takes the job in Chicago or Phoenix, you’re stuck.

   Or at least Donnie Nelson would have been. Stuck coaching, that is.

   So you pull the trigger on “the safe pick,’’ “the sure thing,’’ now.

   ITEM: Avery Johnson is a backstabber. Rick Carlisle is, we think, deserving of a concept we just thought of: He’s a “frontstabber.’’

   Years ago, Mitch Albom wrote a column in the wake of Carlisle’s Detroit departure.

   Rick Carlisle is an intense man. He concentrates and he gets single-minded and when he does that, he may not realize whom he's ignoring or how gruff he may sound. … But that doesn't stop the stories. Stories that Carlisle, last year, shoved a senior Pistons executive as he tried to high-five the players. Tales about Carlisle yelling at secretaries, or snapping at the medical staff, or ripping on assorted personnel, young and old, in front of other people. .. Some never cared for him, since he could stand in an elevator with them and not even strike up a conversation.
   "That was always a difficult thing," admitted guard Chucky Atkins, "he didn't speak to a lot of people. When you treat people bad, it comes back to haunt you. If you can't talk to your coach, who can you talk to?"

   ITEM: Now, we’re going to contend that there is no way Carlisle can out-scream Avery. But like we say, this is still Mr. Right Now, the best move available. … even if he’s “gruff.’’

   ITEM:  Why is Rick Carlisle available? We mean, besides the fact that he shoves, yells, snaps and rips?

His fine run in Detroit was ended when Larry Brown wanted in. His fine run in Indiana ended after the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl. His team, decimated by injuries and saddled with the curious tandem of Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson, went 35-47 that year. Carlisle spent this season as an ESPN analyst.

   ITEM:  More on the personality thing: After what this team just went through, maybe they don’t need a coach they “like’’ (because they certainly liked Avery). Maybe they need a coach they “trust.’’

   ITEM:  Carlisle has moved quickly himself, with a proposed staff. What might that staff look like: No present Mavs aides in primary roles. Our prediction that Popeye Jones’ status as a hard-working MFFL is coming true. The organization is fond of Paul Westphal but assumes he can be a top assistant elsewhere.  The well-liked Joe Prunty is very closely associated with Avery.

   What we’re saying is. … Carlisle will be free to bring in his own guys. (Stein updates us with the names Terry Stotts and Dwane Casey.)

   Except for one of them.

    We’ll be sensitive here. Rick has a long-time association with the  rapscallion Kevin O’Neill. O’Neill (at right) is one of the greatest college recruiters of all-time and a former Toronto head coach. But Carlisle and O’Neill together again? It’s volatile. It’s TWO guys out-yelling each other.    It’s a tornado waiting to happen.

   It’s Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. Which sounds badass, unless you know that in the end, everybody dies.

   Armed with the knowledge of O’Neill’s reputation as we are, we were pleased to learn this: Before Carlisle even brought up O’Neill’s name, the Mavs brought it up. And firmly said “no.’’

   “The guys (Carlisle) is bring in are more upbeat guys, positive guys,’’ a source said. “Rick is smart enough to know that with his (opposite) style, he needs that.’’

   ITEM:  We wonder if in Rick there is exists a coach who will appreciate more than his predecessor did the beauty of being able to say to an owner, “Get me this, this and this,’’ and have the owner respond with signed check, signed check and signed check.

   ITEM: We hope Donnie knows what he’s doing by not hiring himself. How we know that the best way to utilize the unique skillset of Donnie Nelson isn’t to sit him right down there next to Dirk, who was barely shaving when he first developed an unbreakable trust with the man who “discovered’’ him?

   We don’t know that. Donnie is betting that he does know.

   ITEM:  No, Del Harris is not going to be a part of this coaching staff.

   ITEM:  No, Avery Johnson is not going to get hired in Phoenix. That's already been determined. It'll be reinforced when Nash calls Dirk for a scouting report on how this all went down.

   ITEM: It appears unusual that the Mavs didn’t reall y interview anybody. “Investigated.’’ But not really “interviewed.’’

   ITEM: Best guess? Carlisle receives a pretty standard four-year deal. That, despite the fact that his “opposite style’’ may not be built for the long haul here.

   ITEM: The Carlisle profile:  Carlisle, 49, coached the Pistons from 2001-03, going 100-64 an earning 2001-02 NBA Coach of the Year honors. In four ensuing seasons with Indiana, Carlisle was 181-147. Even Carlisle’s enemies – and yes, he has ‘em, the result of in the past having been something short of “personable’’ with players and staffers – concede that this is a bright, talented, driven-to-succeed basketball man.

   ITEM: Trivia: When Larry Bird was the head coach in Indy, his "offensive coordinator'' was his old Celtics' teammate -- Carlisle.

   ITEM: Somebody wrote that Carlisle “isn’t the magic elixir’’ Dallas needs. That’s true. But stupid. There is no such thing as “magic elixir.’’ There is only “the best available choice.’’ There is only "Mr. Right Now.''