Rick Carlisle - Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
The Indiana Pacers commenced their eventual offseason on a pleasantly surprising note, coming to terms with veteran coach Rick Carlisle to man the sidelines for the Blue and Gold in his second stint with the franchise to the tune of a lucrative four-year, 29 million deal.
News of the hiring made headlines across the league, especially since the move was unprecedented despite Carlisle’s storied history with the franchise. Pundits and fans of bigger markets raised their eyebrows, questioning the championship-winning tactician’s motive for heading to a relatively less flashy destination and a team which just missed the postseason.