The welcome-back for Carlisle in Dallas …

The welcome-back for Carlisle in Dallas on Jan. 29, by contrast, does figure to be warm, despite the messy ending in which Carlisle’s abrupt departure followed the firing of longtime president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson by just one day in June. The Mavericks, league sources said, are planning a tribute video and an associated fuss for Carlisle’s return after he coached Dallas to the club’s only championship in 2011 and won more games (555-478) than any coach in franchise history.