Carlisle 'embarrassed for our league' after Blatt's dismissal

Following Friday's news that the Cleveland Cavaliers had fired David Blatt, president of the NBA Coaches Association and Dallas Mavericks bench boss Rick Carlisle once again had strong words about a personnel change.

"I'm embarrassed for our league that something like this could happen," Carlisle told reporters before the Mavs took on the Oklahoma City Thunder. "It's just bizarre."

Carlisle expressed similar sentiments when the Houston Rockets dismissed Kevin McHale in November, calling that move "preposterous."

Like McHale, Blatt helmed a squad that went deep into the postseason last season. Unlike McHale, Blatt's team was atop its conference at the time of the firing.

"The bottom line with this is that I know a couple of things about coaching in this league," Carlisle said of Blatt. "I know integrity. And I know knowledge. I can't speak to the internal things that (might) have gone on in Cleveland. I've read some of the comments that came from the Cavaliers. Teams have a right to make changes ... but David Blatt is going to be a highly sought-after coach this summer, if and when there are openings."

Carlisle also addressed the confusing byproduct of the dismissal: determining who will coach the Eastern Conference in next month's NBA All-Star Game.

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"Now is Tyronn Lue going to coach the All-Star Game? It just leaves you with a bit of an empty feeling," Carlisle said. "Because Blatt's a great guy and he did a great job there."