Here we go, Larry Brown may be next in line

by Diabolo on Apr 25, 2008 4:02 AM CDT

It's on many different news channels, but I only give you the link to truehoop since they offer their opinion (sort of) on his timing for getting free of all obligations towards the 76ers :

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-32-112/On-the-Loose--Larry-Brown.html?post=true

Some extract :

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that Larry Brown has resigned as Executive Vice President. From the press release:

In January of 2007, Brown rejoined the Sixers organization as Executive Vice President, less than six years removed from coaching the franchise to the NBA Finals in 2001.

"It's rare you'll find a separation between an organization and an executive as amicable as the one the 76ers had with Larry Brown today," said Stefanski. "Larry was born to coach and this is something he and I talked about when I took the job here back in December, so it comes as no surprise to me. Working with Larry was always a pleasure and to watch him contribute with Maurice, his staff and the players was terrific."

Which means: fire up the rumor mill!

And further down the article :

In the meantime, there's Chicago. John Paxson and Larry Brown are both old school, and they both like defense. By process of elimination (or, almost elimination -- college, other teams, and New York are not really ruled out), my speculation leads to be believe Chicago could be the most likely bet.

No doubt, this will play out in some fashion over the off-season, and we will see what happens. Some day soon, there will be new information that will change everything, and I will change my mind entirely.

However, for today, if you have an office pool going, put me down for a very small wager on the Bulls.

I don't think Larry Brown is the coach for this (young) team, as has already repeatedly been said on this blog, but he sure is a hell of a coach and I think Pax in his absolute open-mindedness (supposedly) will grant him an interview and consider this option.

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Will the Bulls really pay Brown's price?

And if they do, will Brown defer to Paxson? Will Brown develop young talent? How long will it take him to become disenchanted and openly look for another job?

Then again, even with all the baggage, Brown has had lots of success, and could be worth a gamble. If Reinsdorf is willing to pay the price, Paxson might have a hard time saying no. This is probably Paxson’s last chance to turn things around, so he might want to do something dramatic. And Brown has something to prove, too. He may not be a long term solution, but Paxson may not be able to wait for a long term solution.

by Tim S. on Apr 25, 2008 6:03 AM CDT 0 recs

Yes, I agree

with most or all that you said.

I’m not sure it’s fair to say “how long will it take him to become disenchanted and openly look for another job” though. He stayed for a pretty long time in Philly, then had a lot of success with the Pistons and we don’t know exactly what went behind the doors there at the end. I can’t really blame him for what happened in New York, he was right about the attitude of the organization and the players.

I have more reservations about his ability to work with young inexperienced players in the NBA (even though he was a successful college coach). Would Tyrus and Joakim become the next Darkos ? Although Darko has not set the NBA on fire after being sent to Orlando and now Memphis either. Also, I was in Athens in 2004, watched many games live in the arenas, and I do think he played the veterans too heavily to the detriment of the young up-and-coming guys he had on the roster (LeBron, etc). I mean, how can you play Marbury over LeBron (even a young LeBron) ?

The Game chose him !

by Diabolo on Apr 25, 2008 6:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

Larry's last gig

was really supposed to be HIS last gig. The Knick job was his dream job. James Dolan just made a terrible error in judgment by dismissing Larry after one season. Dolan’s MSG media policy was the worst in the NBA. Donnie Walsh demanded and received the power to craft a media policy that allowed more press freedom for players, coaches, front office personnel and the members of the press.

Also, I was in Athens in 2004, watched many games live in the arenas, and I do think he played the veterans too heavily to the detriment of the young up-and-coming guys he had on the roster (LeBron, etc).

That was a bad move. Larry Brown didn’t even use his own models of success. At UCLA he sat the upper classmen and played the under classmen in his first season.

by NBA Observer on Apr 25, 2008 9:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

huh?

How long ago did he employ that ‘model’? I’d think his work in Philly and Detroit should’ve let you know how things would’ve gone at MSG.

(plus, throw a link in there whydontya)

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 9:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

and what does the media policy have to do

with canning Larry Brown?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 9:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

Brown was fired

There’s really two parts to the story. One is the canning of Larry Brown as the head coach of the Knicks. The second part is Dolan’s attempt to deny Larry Brown any of his guaranteed contract.

Brown’s contract was guaranteed. Dolan wouldn’t pay the rest of the contract citing “insubordination” for Brown violating the MSG media policy. Joe Glass, Brown’s agent, then took the case to Stern and the two parties ended up in arbitration. The arbitration ruling awarded 18 million to Larry Brown instead of nothing or the full 50 million he had been guaranteed.

My source is Keith Glass’ book. This USA Today link summarizes most of the story.

USA Today

by NBA Observer on Apr 25, 2008 10:00 AM CDT up 0 recs

Notes

The Larry Brown model as he applied it to Team USA is what I was commenting about. Not the model Larry Brown used as the head coach of the Knicks.

by NBA Observer on Apr 25, 2008 10:03 AM CDT up 0 recs

ok, fine

“I’d think his work in Philly and Detroit should’ve let you know how things would’ve gone at ~~MSG~~ the olympics”.

(I kept the grammatical errors in there for accuracy’s sake, heh)

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 10:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

nothing to worry about here

Reinsdorf isn’t going to pay for Brown. I don’t have an indignant “Jerry’s cheap! Oh the humanity! Small market owner in a big market!” reason. I doubt a Phil Jackson-sized ego, who won’t likely honor his contract is worth paying for. A return to mediocrity be damned.

by hscs on Apr 25, 2008 7:18 AM CDT 0 recs

Unless he's the last coach available

I don’t see Brown being the next coach either.

2008 or bust.

by bullshooter on Apr 25, 2008 8:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

there's still conflicting reports on whether

the Bulls still owe Skiles money.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 9:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

Just the notion of Brown returning to the Knicks and screwing Dolan out of $50M more makes me smile

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Apr 25, 2008 8:36 AM CDT 0 recs

I lolled too

How could James Dolan explain to Cablevision shareholders hiring Larry Brown after firing him and settling in arbitration for 18 million?

Can he say “Donnie Walsh did it”?

by NBA Observer on Apr 25, 2008 9:17 AM CDT up 0 recs

they haven't exactly held him accountable thus far.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 9:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

The arbitration saved Cablevision 21.5 million dollars

Which was much preferred to having to give up 40 million dollars.

by NBA Observer on Apr 25, 2008 10:05 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'm just saying in general

Dolan’s an embarrassment.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 10:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'd rather have LB than Mark Jackson

or Rick Carlisle. So what if he demands a high contract, the Bulls were willing to give Skiles 16.5 million dollars.

It’s not like Paxson has many options to gamble on an unproven commodity. He needs a proven coach to get this team to win now. he won’t make it through another season if the Bulls have another shit start.

by RogersPark Kris on Apr 25, 2008 9:01 AM CDT 0 recs

pax isn't the panicky type

It’s been speculated that he has a lot of job security, and I’m counting on Reinsdorf not wanting to deal with Brown more than money, or basketball philosophy.

by hscs on Apr 25, 2008 9:07 AM CDT up 0 recs

2G2BT

but, I hope you’re right…

by exult463 on Apr 25, 2008 9:17 AM CDT up 0 recs

Despite Jerry Reinsdorf's loyalty to Pax

Not making the playoffs, teammates not showing up for practice, or not showing 100 percent effort for another season (going along with fat new contracts to Deng and Gordon/Gordon’s replacement) from a team compiled 100 percent of Paxson players, how could he survive that? Either he ends up fired or “resigns.”

by RogersPark Kris on Apr 25, 2008 9:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

Larry Brown isn't exactly famous for players showing up to practice

He’s not the only coach out there, and my thoughts on the Bulls valuing stability and loyalty aside, Larry may not be the fixer he once was.

by hscs on Apr 25, 2008 9:44 AM CDT up 0 recs

Practice? We're talking about practice.

Fun read for those nostalgic types.

"I've got a class (coming in) here, we've got a chance to do some things." --Tom Izzo on why he might not consider the Bulls coaching vacancy.

by tyger1147 on Apr 25, 2008 9:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

Even funnier in video

YouTube clip

by paxson43 on Apr 25, 2008 12:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

Maybe Reinsdorf should have some loyalty to Pax

I don’t know that I believe it or not, but there’s enough reports out there to suggest Reinsdorf has called a lot of the shots. I’m too lazy to look up the exact quotes and whatnot, but there were stories that intimated Reinsdorf had a major hand in all of the following:

Re-signing Skiles
The handling of the Curry situation
Signing Wallace
Firing Skiles
Refusing to do a deal for Gasol that’d result in paying any tax.

If Reinsdorf has vetoed some of his moves or has simply gone in a direction Pax didn’t want to go, he ought to cut Paxson some slack for it.

Of course, the ultimate responsibility is Pax’s either way. If you assume Reinsdorf meddled, some of his meddling might have resulted in better results than what Pax was gonna do.

by Sports2 on Apr 25, 2008 2:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

What if they hire Larry

and then place the next coach on the bench as an assistant. Everyone knows that Larry Brown gets bored with his teams, but now his age and health is a factor that could be cited as reason for letting him go and putting the team in the hands of this assistant.

Hire Larry as head coach. Hire Pippen as the assistant. Let Brown assemble the rest of the staff.

by NBA Observer on Apr 25, 2008 9:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

I don't mind the idea of Pippen as an assistant

he can go on to have a semi-fruitful Pete Myers-esque coaching career. I doubt he’ll ever make the step up to that next level, not without a good 4 years of learning the coaching ranks. And judging by his statements of not wanting to coach over seas, I have doubts as to his commitment.

by RogersPark Kris on Apr 25, 2008 9:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

right

I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s indeed jobs out there for Pip, but they may not be as high-profile as he’d like.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 9:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

I agree

I doubt he’ll ever make the step up to that next level, not without a good 4 years of learning the coaching ranks.

Few leap from no coaching experience to a paid coaching position, so Pippen should build a reputation for himself as a coach and if he succeeds he’ll receive offers from NBA clubs.

Phil Jackson said the same thing in conversation with Dan Patrick on his radio show. Phil think Pippen could coach based on Pip’s incredibly basketball IQ. As I’m reading Phil’s books, Pip’s knowledge of the game and visual memory to recall how each play was executed is something Phil has rarely seen from a player.

by NBA Observer on Apr 25, 2008 10:09 AM CDT up 0 recs

and Hakeem as big man coach

and Toni Kukoc to teach inbounds passing!

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 9:38 AM CDT up 0 recs

Only we we draft Gallinari

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Apr 25, 2008 9:47 AM CDT up 0 recs

and trade for Bellinelli

he had a great summer league.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 25, 2008 10:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

He's

the second coming of Von Wafer!

by Petor on Apr 25, 2008 11:14 AM CDT up 0 recs

A wishful thought

I was thinking ~~H-to-the-~~Izzo could come in as an assistant and learn the ropes for a season or two before replacing LB once he’s finally ready to retire.

by paxson43 on Apr 25, 2008 12:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

Bobcats fire Sam Vincent

And Larry Brown’s name enters the Bobcats fray.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3368749

by NBA Observer on Apr 26, 2008 10:02 AM CDT 0 recs

Abbott chips in

Larry-Brown-Needs-a-Team.html” target=”_blank”>http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-32-120/The-Bobcats-Need-a-Coach-Larry-Brown-Needs-a-Team.html

by paxson43 on Apr 26, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up 0 recs

Re-post

Larry-Brown-Needs-a-Team.html” target=”_blank”>Abbott

by paxson43 on Apr 26, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

LB to Phoenix?

Since it looks like a first round exit for the Suns this season, I wonder if Kerr would consider hiring LB in a panic move. I don’t know how realistic this scenario is, but assuming that Kerr believes that next year may be the Suns’ last shot at a title (given the health/age of Shaq, Hill and Nash), doesn’t LB’s track record of taking teams to the next level (like he did post-Carlisle in Detroit) make him a logical candidate? This scenario would be a double bonus for the Bulls since it takes LB off the market and makes D’Antoni available.

Is this even remotely possible?

by paxson43 on Apr 26, 2008 10:46 AM CDT 0 recs

LB to Charlotte?

The Associated Press and Charlotte Observer are reporting that Sam Vincent has been fired and Larry Brown is a leading candidate. The AP reports

Vincent’s ouster means Larry Brown could quickly become a candidate for the job. Brown and Jordan have a history from their ties to North Carolina, and Brown’s mother lives in Charlotte.

by chgobr on Apr 26, 2008 12:32 PM CDT 0 recs