Who will be the next head maverick?

Dwain Price of the Ft.Worth Star-Telegram reports: Dallas Mavericks head coach Don Nelson and owner Mark Cuban are tight-lipped on they want to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.

"I don't want him to tell me now," Cuban said. "I want to focus on what we're doing now."

In May 2000, Nelson signed an 11-year, $22 million contract that called for him to be the Mavericks' coach and general manager for three seasons, the general manager for three seasons, then a consultant for five seasons. The coaching portion of Nelson's contract expires after this season, which, for the Mavs, opens Wednesday at Memphis.

Asked if he hopes to coach next season, Nelson, 62, chuckled and carefully said: "I don't really think this is the time to get into those kind of things. It might be perceived as me putting pressure on Mark or something. I'm not doing any of the above. Whatever is best for the organization will be my future."

While it's assumed that Nelson's son assistant coach Donnie Nelson will succeed his father, there are no guarantees.

"There are no automatics," Cuban said. "I'd be crazy to make decisions about stuff that who knows when it'll be happening.

Via Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks

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Transition Game: Changes on Tap

If the Midwest Division had a theme song, it would be "Auld Lang Syne." Because big changes are coming to the division that basketball forgot. Yao Ming is arriving, just as a busload of Hall of Famers and otherwise useful players are checking their reservations out of here. By next fall, the Midwest could be without David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Steve Smith, Wally Szczerbiak, the entire Memphis Grizzlies franchise and, of course, John Stockton and Karl Malone. Then there's Denver, which dismantled its roster just to see what would grow out of the mess. The Nuggets have taken transition to an extreme. The only Midwest team not contemplating a face lift is, not coincidentally, the best one: Dallas. And since when has Mark Cuban's team been known for its stability?

Via Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets

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Nelsons suspended for two games

The Associated Press reports: Dallas coach Don Nelson and assistant Donnie Nelson were suspended for the season's first two games by the NBA, which also fined the team $150,000 Friday for contact with players who were ineligible for the draft.

The Nelsons -- Don is Donnie's father -- went to two private workouts in June in Yugoslavia.

It was the ninth time the Mavericks have been fined for a total of $1,155,000 since January, 2000, when Mark Cuban bought the team.

Via ESPN

Dallas Mavericks

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