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he Dallas Mavericks fired coach Avery Johnson on Wednesday, the first of what’s likely to be many offseason moves after the team with the league’s highest payroll again flopped in the first round of the playoffs.
Johnson leaves with an impressive resume after three-plus seasons, but Mavs owner Mark Cuban couldn’t tolerate two straight years of first-round exits—or the fact that Dallas has gone 3-12 in the playoffs since blowing a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA finals against Miami.
The Mavericks followed that 2006 disappointment by the embarrassment of being ousted by Golden State in the opening round last season in one of the biggest upsets in league history. And they were just dumped in five games by Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets.
Dallas didn’t win a single road game against the Heat, Warriors or Hornets, an 0-9 skid that was too much to overcome.
The final mark during Johnson’s tenure: 194-70 in the regular season, 23-24 in the playoffs.
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“It is never easy to relieve a coach of his duties, especially one of Avery’s caliber,” Cuban said in a statement. “He is a talented coach and I want to thank him for his efforts over the last four years and what he has done for this franchise.”
Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks’ president of basketball operations also praised Johnson, saying, “Over the past four years, he has been an integral part of our team’s success.”
A championship-winning point guard for San Antonio during his long career, Johnson became Dallas’ coach-in-waiting when he joined Don Nelson’s staff before the 2004-05 season. He only had to wait a few months. Nellie stepped aside in March 2005 and “The Little General” took over.
The Mavs went 16-2 the rest of that season and won a playoff series. Then, in his first full season, Dallas went to the NBA finals for the first time and he was named the league’s coach of the year.
After squandering their title shot, Johnson and the Mavs bounced back by winning 67 games, matching the fifth most in league history—only to waste it with the opening-round playoff loss to, of all people, Don Nelson and the Warriors.
Critics said Johnson was outcoached by Miami’s Pat Riley in the finals, then by Nellie. Johnson gave critics ammunition with moves such as switching hotels during the finals to get away from distractions and by changing his starting lineup for Game 1 against Golden State even though his team was the overwhelming favorite.
More fodder came in the final months of this season, when he benched newly acquired Jason Kidd for the final 35 seconds of a game against rival San Antonio. A few weeks later, Johnson and Cuban had a shouting match in the coach’s office following a home loss to the Lakers.
Dallas was 16-13 after Kidd arrived—17-17 counting the playoffs. They were 35-18 before giving up young point guard Devin Harris and a package of players and picks for the veteran superstar.
Johnson’s rift with his club was apparent in the Hornets series. Down 2-0, he sarcastically said to blame him, adding it was his fault the players were missing layups, free throws and defensive assignments. After losing Game 4, Johnson canceled an off-day practice only to discover that players ended up putting themselves through a workout without him.
He might not be unemployed very long. The New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls are among the teams needing coaches, and both might want a young, proven coach who preaches defense and discipline.
Who will Cuban hire next?
It’s hard to guess because he’s never really hired anyone, inheriting Don Nelson when he bought the team and then agreeing with Nelson to groom Johnson.
Paul Westphal was on Johnson’s staff, and Del Harris remains on the payroll as a consultant. Jeff Van Gundy and Rick Carlisle are other experienced coaches who could be interested, if Cuban is. Phoenix’s Mike D’Antoni also would be an intriguing option if he loses his job.
Whoever takes over will get a roster of expensive, aging players.
Dirk Nowitzki is still in his prime, but he turns 30 this summer. Kidd is 35 and likely will be back since his $21 million contract is at the player’s option. It’s the only year left on his contract and he knows he won’t get more than that on the open market.
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