Mavericks fire Johnson after second consecutive first-round playoff flop

The Dallas Mavericks fired coach Avery Johnson on Tuesday, a move that likely was the first of many in the offseason by the club.

Despite having the National Basketball Association's highest annual payroll, Dallas was eliminated in the first-round of the playoffs for the second straight season.

Johnson leaves Wednesday with an impressive resume after three-plus seasons, but Mavs owner Mark Cuban couldn't tolerate a bottom line of being 3-12 in the playoffs since leading the Miami Heat 2-0 in the 2006 NBA finals and losing the title.

The Mavericks followed that disappointment by being ousted by Golden State in the opening round last season in one …