President Larry Brown

[blkmagic]

His comments today on ESPNews leads you think that he's looking for something other than a bench job next year. He said he "wouldn't coach anywhere but Detriot" but also said that coming back to the bench is something he would really have to reconsider strongly as his health (not related to the hip injury) might prevent that type of return. That being said I think he might be open to a FO office job. I think we should look at Brown as an option for our GM position. He would bring instant creditibilty to our FO and organization. Thoughts anyone?

 

[Glen Infante]

Re: Larry Brown statements

He would definatly bring some credibility to our team, but I doubt Larry even looks our way. He is a very respectable man and I doubt he would want to spoil his good name by being employed by our unrespected organization.

 

[Karma]

Re: Larry Brown statements

I dont mind Brown in that role. I know Brown is very unpopular here due to his clash with leBron at the Olympics, but we need to get past that and look outside the square.

Good to see you too Blkmagic

 

[NarlCavs]

Re: Larry Brown statements

Welcome Blkmagic.
I don't like the idea of Brown as GM. The LeBron situation isn't a factor either. Brown has a history of quickly falling in and out of love with players and to constantly want to make changes. It has taken a strong GM such as Dumars to have control and more authority than Brown to not let him push for roster changes.
There were stories of Brown always wanting to move players while coaching Philly and Indiana. I don't think he has the patience to be a GM.
Larry Brown is a very good coach but I don't feel Larry Brown the GM is a good idea.

 

[King]

Re: Larry Brown statements

Im still not sold on Brown as a gm either. It sounds like his past stints as a gm werent too succesful. I'd rather get someone more proven.

 

[aaronr]

Larry Brown Story in today's New York Times

Here's the link to an interesting story in today's New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/25/sports/basketball/25brown.html?pagewanted=all

The NYT doesn't have the greatest sports section in the world, but they have some excellent beat writers coverning professional basketball, including Liz Robbins who authored this story. That she had a second byline in today's sports sections suggests to me that the Brown story has some real substance to it.

I've been ranting here about the need for Gilbert to hire a professional general manager, and then for the GM to hire a solid coach as prelude to restructuring the team via free agency, trades, or whatever. Brown would certainly fill that bill--or would he? Is he really over the coaching bug, or would he fire his own coach and come back to the court halfway through the season?

 

[RichOne]

Re: Larry Brown Story in today's New York Times

here is a follow up story to that aritcle. is larry brown really coming to cleveland?? gilbert said that he would have a coach and gm in here in the next two weeks...

Brown quiet about reports saying his future could be with Cavs

By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer
May 25, 2005
MIAMI (AP) -- Detroit coach Larry Brown would not respond Wednesday to a published report suggesting he may leave the Pistons after this season and become Cleveland's president of basketball operations.

The New York Times, quoting an anonymous Eastern Conference executive, reported Wednesday that Brown has talked recently to Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert about the prospects of joining the Cavaliers' front office.

Speaking before his team's shootaround in advance of Wednesday's Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals in Miami, Brown wouldn't specifically comment on whether he'd spoken with Gilbert.

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``I'll only do stuff that's honest and fair,'' said Brown, clearly annoyed by the line of questioning.

Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars, who has often said he'd like to have Brown back next season and calls him ``the perfect coach for this team,'' declined comment when reached by The Associated Press.

Brown, whose name has been also linked at times with the New York Knicks' and Los Angeles Lakers' coaching vacancies, along with a handful of other jobs, also bristled at the suggestion he is demanding of both his players and the Pistons' front office.

``That stuff about my players and about Joe, that's so unfair,'' said Brown, who has three years remaining on a five-year, $25 million contract to coach the Pistons. ``I talk to Joe every day.''

Gilbert, speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, said the Cavaliers ``are undergoing a massive transformation'' and that he will announce the hiring of a new coach, new general manager and president in the next one to two weeks.

He wouldn't, however, speak specifically about Brown.

``There's a lot of names that are kind of circulating out there and a lot of rumors,'' Gilbert said. ``And unfortunately, or fortunately, I can't comment on any of them. ... There's nothing imminent right now signing with anybody but we're getting very close. We're very excited about the candidates we're talking to.''

Gilbert is looking for someone to replace former GM Jim Paxson, who was fired April 21, a day after the season ended with the Cavaliers missing the playoffs for the seventh straight year. And LeBron James, the team's star, has said he'd like Seattle coach Nate McMillan to take over as Cleveland's coach.

``LeBron will be in the playoffs next year,'' Gilbert said. ``We're going to do everything we can to build a world class organization in Cleveland.''

If the 64-year-old Brown was to join the Cavaliers, he'd be reunited with James, who played for Brown on last summer's U.S. Olympic basketball team that won a bronze medal in Athens. James was a reserve on the Olympic team, and was often little-used even as the team struggled throughout the tournament.

Brown has repeatedly said Detroit will be his final coaching stop, and insists his health will dictate whether he returns to the Pistons' sidelines next season. He missed parts of this season because of a hip operation that led to more problems.

``I said when I got the job that I was confident this would be my last job,'' Brown told The AP shortly before the playoffs began. ``And nothing has changed.''

AP Sports Writers Tom Withers in Cleveland and Larry Lage in Detroit contributed to this report

 

[Glen Infante]

Re: Larry Brown Story in today's New York Times

Larry Brown talk is heating up.

Gilbert expected to chase Brown

New York Times says high-profile Cavs offer to go to Pistons coach

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sports writer


There's been smoke surrounding Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown and the Cavaliers for the last month. Now there's some fire.

A report in Wednesday's New York Times ratcheted speculation that Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert will pursue Brown for a high-ranking position in his front office into high gear.

Since the day Gilbert fired president and general manager Jim Paxson just more than a month ago, NBA insiders have said he would pursue Brown. Peel back the layers of the rhetoric following the Times report, which put the national spotlight on the issue for the first time, and the potential picture becomes clear.

Speaking on CNBC on Wednesday, Gilbert said publicly for the first time that he intends to hire a president along with a general manager and a head coach within the coming weeks. He termed it ``a massive transformation.''

Brown told reporters before the Pistons' game with the Miami Heat on Wednesday that he hadn't spoken to Gilbert about the job. Several NBA officials said, though, that Gilbert and Brown have spoken through intermediaries about him becoming the next Cavaliers president of basketball operations. It is believed that Gilbert will offer him the job and possibly a percentage of team ownership at the conclusion of the Pistons' playoff run.

Brown has three years left on his contract with the Pistons, but many in the league consider it doubtful that he'll return as coach.

He has struggled through medical problems and told TNT that he plans on admitting himself to the Mayo Clinic for treatment at the conclusion of the season before he decides his coaching future. Even if he doesn't coach, Brown said Wednesday that he wants to remain in the league, hinting at the possibility of the option with the Cavaliers.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/sports/basketball/11741940.htm

 

[West Remy]

Brown denies talk with Gilbert

Brown denies talks with Gilbert

Thursday, May 26, 2005
Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter

Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown said he has never talked with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert about the Cavs' general manager position, and he has never met Gilbert before Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals Wednesday in Miami.

That could all change. According to a source close to the situation, the Cavs have asked the Pistons for permission to speak with Brown once the Pistons' season is over.

Brown, 64, is under contract with the Pistons for three more seasons, but he might retire from coaching because of health concerns. Brown has had bladder-related complications dating to his Nov. 3 hip surgery.

He had a follow-up procedure performed on March 14, but the bladder-related problems remain.

Brown understands his health could limit his coaching days.

"I don't want to get into what if I can't coach because my goal is to coach," Brown said to reporters. "But I also understand from [GM Joe Dumars'] perspective and this team's perspective. I'm not going to tell Joe what to do, but I don't want to drag this thing out. As soon as the season's over, I'm going to get it checked and I hope in a couple days, I will be able to give him a definitive answer . . . but this is my last coaching job."

If he's not coaching, Brown said he would consider staying involved in basketball in some other capacity.

"Absolutely, if I can," Brown said to the media.

Gilbert, speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, said the Cavaliers "are undergoing a massive transformation" and that he will announce the hiring of a new coach, new general manager and president in the next one to two weeks.

He wouldn't, however, speak specifically about Brown.

"There's a lot of names that are kind of circulating out there and a lot of rumors," Gilbert said. "And unfortunately, or fortunately, I can't comment on any of them. . . . There's nothing imminent right now signing with anybody but we're getting very close. We're very excited about the candidates we're talking to."

Brown is the only coach to win an NCAA championship and an NBA title. Brown has coached in the NBA for 22 years. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

 

[Mac]

Re: Brown denies talk with Gilbert

I hope he stays out of cleveland.

 

[Karma]

Re: Brown denies talk with Gilbert

Do you guys believe players could stay away from Cleveland because Larry Brown is our GM / President?

 

[Karma]

Cleveland's Brown

Is it just me or do the recent rumors about Larry Brown being offered a job as president of the Cleveland Cavaliers qualify as news of the weird?
Every twist and turn to this story (which sources tell me is accurate) gets more bizarre by the day.
So let's get this straight.
After weeks of interviews with as many as 12 candidates, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert reportedly has come to the conclusion that Brown is the most qualified person to run the franchise.
The same Brown who has created instability in every organization he's ever been in by looking toward his next gig the minute he walks in the door.
The same Brown who ticked off LeBron James, the one guy Gilbert absolutely has to make happy, in the Olympics.
The same Brown who put the 76ers on the road to salary cap ruin the one time he had control of player personnel matters.
The same Brown who just so happens to be in the middle of his current gig -- coaching the NBA champions in the Eastern Conference finals.
The same 64-year-old Brown who told the Associated Press Thursday that he has a serious medical condition that will require him to check into the hospital a few days after the season. Surgery is possible, according to Brown. A full recovery isn't guaranteed.
If Brown takes the job, how can Gilbert trust him? Any coach willing to entertain taking a new job while in the midst of the playoffs can't be trusted. Brown's long track record in this area just bolsters that contention. And shouldn't the fact that the Pistons reportedly granted permission for the Cavs to talk to him during their playoff run raise even more doubts? That's almost unprecedented and has to make Gilbert wonder why the Pistons would be willing to give up on him so fast, right after he has won a title and is perhaps on his way to another.
Some other unanswered questions:
If Brown takes the job, who's going to do the day-to-day stuff? Brown will have no problem making player personnel decisions, but that's about 10 percent of running a franchise. Who's going to agree to come aboard as the team's GM with Brown as president?
If Brown takes the job, who's going to coach the team? Not Flip Saunders, who wouldn't want Brown looking over his shoulder and quietly campaigning for his job. Not top candidates like Pacers assistant Mike Brown or the Grizzlies' Eric Musselman, who don't have enough experience or authority to keep Brown from micromanaging the team from his luxury suite.
If Brown takes the job, and things don't go well with LeBron, who's going to pick up the pieces? Not Brown, who has made a career of bolting just before the other shoe drops.
How many red flags does it take before the Cavs get the message?
Surely Gilbert knows the Cavs need stability more than they need star power.
Brown as the Cavaliers' president raises more questions than answers. He's a great coach, maybe the best in the NBA. But the Cavs need someone with a long-term plan, not a short-term exit strategy.

by Chad Ford

I basically sit on the fence on the Larry Brown issue. Alot of his negatives have been aired over and over again, but he gets little credit for his successes. If he mixed a capoligist in Morway, they may find a decent mix. The meddling with the coaching hopefully wont be a big problem if the coach is up to the task of taking this team to the next level.

 

[The Disector]

Re: Cleveland's Brown

Brown is a winner and has proven himself over and over.
We'd be lucky to get him.

 

[Glen Infante]

Re: Cleveland's Brown

It would be great for the team right now. The Cavaliers are in dear need in having someone with a good name in their front office. We have had a real mediocre office in the past, and it would be nice to see some big time namers invovled with the Cavaliers.

Looking towards the negitive side of things, I don't feel he will stick around here for long. As many people said here, he seems to shift interests every few years.

 

[aggressivestyle]

Re: Cleveland's Brown

i never agreed with ford b4 but this time i kinda have 2. He was on target from word 1. Larry brown shouldn't be president of the team i seriously don't think it will happen anyway.