Did Rick Carlisle leave the Dallas Mavericks?
SINCE 2001, Rick Carlisle has served as a head coach in the NBA for the Detriot Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks. Carlisle led Dallas to their first-ever NBA Championship in 2011 - defeating the Miami Heat's big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. After 13 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, Carlisle stepped down as head coach of the Mavs on June 17. There have been reports that front office turmoil, poor roster construction, and a budding young superstar in Luka Doni. The Athletic reported that Mavs owner Mark Cuban took the side of Haralabos Voulgaris - the Director of Quantitative Research and Development for the team - over Carlisle and General Manager Donnie Nelson. The outlet also reported that Voulgaris allegedly dictating starting lineups and rotations to Carlisle. 5 Carlisle led the Mavericks to their only championship in 2011 Credit: EPA  Another reason to Carlisle's abrupt departure from Dallas was the firing of general manager Nelson. Carlisle and Nelson have reportedly been friends for over four decades, dating back to attending the same private school as children. However, reports indicate that the sudden superstar arrival and the demand to win now for 22-year-old Doni was a key reason Carlisle decided to step down. Doni, who is currently in his third NBA season, quickly turned heads during his rookie season in the league and has skyrocketed among the NBA's elite. The Mavericks front office is willing to throw the kitchen sink to make Doni happy, as the talk around the league next season will be whether or not he signs the super-max extension with Dallas. On June 24, it was reported that Carlisle would be returning to the Indiana Pacers as their new head coach. The Pacers have hired Carlisle on a reported four-year $29million contract. "You never want to get to a point where you ever feel like you're overstaying your welcome, and I just felt like this is the right time," Carlisle said on June 24. "I just have such great respect for [Mavs owner Mark Cuban] and everyone there, and I'm fortunate to move on to another great opportunity." Carlisle offered a strong endorsement of Jason Kidd, whom Carlisle coached for four seasons in Dallas, highlighted by the Mavs' championship run. "My hope is that Jason Kidd will be the next coach of the Mavs because he and Luka have so many things in common as players," Carlisle said. "I just think that it would be a great situation for Luka, and I think it would be an amazing situation for Jason. "I'm the only person on the planet that's coached both of those guys and that knows about all of their special qualities as basketball players. RIP Ex-WWE star Melissa Coates dies aged 50 just months after life-saving leg amputation Video TONI TIME WWE star Toni Storm comes out as bisexual as Triple H comes out to support her  "To me, that just would be a great marriage, but that's just an opinion," Carlisle added. Sources told ESPN that the Mavericks were finalizing a deal to make the Hall of Fame point guard the franchise's new head coach. However, the details surrounding Kidd and the Mavs' potential head coach hire remain unknown.