To be sure, Carlisle was pleasantly surprised when Cuban and team president Donnie Nelson told him before the season they had a chance to get Odom. All three had reason for optimism, as one hallmark of Carlisle's coaching career has been his uncanny ability to raise a player's production in his first year coaching him. Clearly, Odom was an outlier this season.
But the long-term part of the plan remains intact for the Mavs, who will hold out hope they can trade Odom in conjunction with the draft. Such a move would maximize their cap space for this summer, when they are widely expected to make a run at the Nets' Williams as a free agent. The interest is believed to be mutual.
Ken Berger, CBS Sports -- Odom gamble didn't work, but Mavs' long-term plan still intact
Free agency begins July 1st, and players cannot sign new deals until July 11th. Meanwhile, the Nets play the Sixers tonight.
