Rick Carlisle shoots down Milwaukee Bucks coaching job rumor

Tuesday morning, Racine Times Journal columnist Gary Woelfel reported that Rick Carlisle is a rumored candidate for the Milwaukee Bucks coaching vacancy. Mavs Moneyball elected not to cover the single-source rumor.

Mid-day Wednesday, Mike Fisher of DallasBasketball.com reported that Mavericks owner Mark Cuban called the report “absurd”.

Late Wednesday evening, Rick Carlisle reached out to various reporters to totally shoot down the report, telling The New York Times’ Marc Stein, “Rumors that I have interest in the Milwaukee Bucks’ job are completely inaccurate. I work for Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks.”

On the one hand, it’s kind of weird that a single-source rumor needed addressing from Carlisle. On the other, it’s rather nice to see Carlisle confirm his position and focus on the Dallas Mavericks.

Some of the less patient members of the Dallas Mavericks fan base have voiced frustration with Carlisle in recent seasons, but the only championship-winning coach in franchise history deserves both our respect and a little bit more faith. Given the roster construction in the post-championship era, it’s incredible that the last two seasons have been the only true disasters in modern Maverick history.

There are very few stabilizing factors in Dallas these days. Rick Carlisle is one of them and for that we should be grateful.