Jim O’Brien, who succeeded Rick Carlisle as coach of the Indiana Pacers in 2007, has emerged as the clear frontrunner to join Carlisle’s staff in Dallas as the replacement for lead assistant Terry Stotts, according to NBA coaching sources.

Sources told ESPNDallas.com on Friday that O’Brien has indeed already interviewed with Carlisle and ranks as the Mavs’ top target given Carlisle’s reported preference to replace Stotts with a former NBA head coach.

via Marc Stein of ESPN Dallas