Indiana Pacers: Rick Carlisle gets a second go-around as head coach

Rick Carlisle is no longer sitting in the NBA unemployment line and, instead, will head back to a familiar place as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers. The deal is for four years, and $29 million as Carlisle now takes over a team that he joined in 2004 after being fired from the Detroit Pistons in 2003. Carlisle’s former team went on to win the NBA Championship just a season later under the tutelage of Larry Brown.

The signing is not one to be questioned as he does have a respectable resume that warrants him being a head coach in the NBA. He won a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 while beating future Hall of Famer LeBron James and his crew of the Miami Heat. Yes, he did have Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry and Jason Kidd, for that matter, but it was still a very talented roster.

However, since that magical run, the Mavericks have not tasted that level of glory. In fact, not even a trip to the Western Conference Finals. Six losses in the first round and four seasons of missing the playoffs. The wins are there, but the playoff production is, well, desolate, like the cornfields in the state of Indiana.

Rick Carlisle is no longer sitting in the NBA unemployment line and, instead, will head back to a familiar place as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers.

It’s rather interesting that former coach Nate McMillan was let go by the Pacers and now has the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Granted, he has a plethora of talent at his disposal such as Trae Young, John Collins, and even Kevin Huerter, for that matter. This isn’t about McMillan; however, this is about Carlisle and what he can bring to the table.

In his first go-around, he had Reggie Miller, Ron Artest, and Stephen Jackson. However, that tenure is largely highlighted by “The Malice at the Palace” in 2005, headlined by Artest being suspended for the rest of the season.

On the flip side, Carlisle did have four playoff appearances in five years and was fired after missing the playoffs during the 2006-2007 season. So, he can coach, and that’s all well and good, but he doesn’t have that same arsenal now.

Malcolm Brogdon and two of the Holiday brothers (Aaron and Justin) will likely be central figures, as are Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis. The play of Caris LeVert in the lineup can only help, but it will be up to Carlisle to get the most out of this roster.

Furthermore, with Nate Bjorken out of the fold, Indiana’s players will be looking for a voice that can be respected and has a vision of winning with experience to back it up. That would be Carlisle, and on the bright side, he has a reputation of winning in Indiana, which should appeal to the fans.

Rick Carlisle deserves to be an NBA head coach, but the opportunities are scarce. The Pacers will offer him another chance to lead the team, and this time, Larry Bird is no longer leading the organization. Nevertheless, he has a job once again, and he must make the most out of it.