Posted on Monday 30 May 2005 by JEC @ 11:10 am
The PD is reporting that the Cavaliers have reached an agreement with Mike Brown and will introduce the former Indiana assistant as the team’s new head coach within the week.
Hmm…. I’m not sure what to think here. Brown is highly respected throughout the league and has an impressive resume, working under Pacers coach Rick Carlisle as an associate head coach for the past two seasons while also winning a title under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. If Dan Gilbert wanted to nab a hot young assistant instead of one of the big-name coaching candidates out there, then it seems that Brown was the ideal choice. But after all the talk about Phil Jackson and Flip Saunders, I have to admit that I’m kind of shocked by the move.
Is this the guy that’s going to keep LeBron in Cleveland? Jackson and Saunders seem better suited for that challenge, but both may have turned Gilbert down or priced themselves out of the job. Then again, maybe the big-name talk was just that — talk. ESPN speculates that Brown’s hiring may enhance the likelihood of Larry Brown becoming the team’s GM, which seems to make sense. Pairing Larry Brown with someone like Jackson or Saunders could quickly lead to a power struggle between GM and coach, a situation you would avoid with Mike Brown as the head coach.
Regardless of what decisions have been and will be made, let’s just hope they all lead to an extended stay in Cleveland for LeBron and an eventual title run for the Cavaliers.
ESPN is now reporting [sports.espn.go.com] that Brown’s deal is for four years, $9 million. That’s a pretty sizeable contract for someone with no head-coaching experience to speak of.
Actually, for a little over $2 million per year that’s a pretty standard contract. Frankly, I like this move. It shows that Gilbert is more concerned with getting a talented coach than a big name. It sounds like Brown has earned tremendous respect around the league. There’s no way to know know whether he’s the right choice, but it looks like a solid move for the organization.
Also, I agree that this might result in a better fit for someone like Larry Brown to go to the front office, though a rookie coach like Mike Brown might find himslef looking over his shoulder if a restless Larry Brown is in the fron office.