Wednesday, May 25th, 2011 at 9:00 am  |  75 responses

Reports: Lakers to Hire Mike Brown as Head Coach


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss informed the world yesterday that he was “very close” to finding Phil Jackson’s replacement on the sideline, a man who will command a salary nowhere near what Phil was making.

Late last night, the shocker was who might actually be coaching the Lakers next season.

According to multiple published reports, the Mike Brown Era is on the verge of kicking off in Los Angeles.

From CSN Bay Area and Yahoo! Sports:

Mike Brown will not be the next head coach of the Golden State Warriors. Instead, Brown, the former coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, will be named the new coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, according to two league sources. Brown was considered a frontrunner for the Warriors’ job, but is expected to sign a four-year, $18 million contract with L.A. — succeeding Phil Jackson as coach.

Los Angeles had considered longtime assistant Brian Shaw, but the focus is now on Brown, who is currently an NBA analyst for ESPN. There could be an agreement in place within the next 24-48 hours, sources say, but nothing has been finalized. Brown expects to reach a resolution one way or another with Los Angeles on Wednesday. The two sides are working out issues that could be dealbreakers and cause the Lakers to go to another candidate, sources said, but there’s clearly momentum toward Brown becoming the next head coach.

Known for his defensive approach (a major concern for the Lakers), the 41-year old Mike Brown is a head coach with a proven and impressive NBA track record — he won 272 out of 410 games in Cleveland coaching LeBron James.

Laker fans are understandably worried about his perceived lack of creativity on the offensive end of the floor, and questions regarding his ability to handle superstar talent and ego.

A resolution of some kind is expected today, and should Mike Brown not get hired, Rick Adelman and Brian Shawn are still considered to be strong candidates for the gig.

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  • L

    The guy is gonna get back to his espn booth as soon as the lakers lose 4 games in a row..L

  • Josh

    Please god, no. No. This cannot be happening.

  • runNgun

    One name: Mike D’Antoni… Make it happen, Buss!

  • http://slamonline.com BigBlockMopar+Basketball

    STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID. . . . .

  • JL

    hope this works out. i wish they had taken JVG instead if he was available though.

  • http://slamonline.com biged

    “cru_thik305 Posted: May.25 at 11:40 am
    @Jukai- defense wins championships, not the triangle offense”……..

    tell that to Phil Jackson and eleven rings

  • http://slamonline.com biged

    Buss should listen to his fans if he doesnt want to loose all of them. Cause i dont think imma watch the lakers next year. imma just be a NBA fan instead of a Lakers fan.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Phil Jackson has won a title with a top 5 defensive team every year he’s won a title. Don’t get it twisted. And those chicago teams had the 2 best wing defenders, ever. And for the 2nd 3peat they also had the best defensive power forward the league had ever seen, to that point.

  • KOBESbestFRIEND

    y does every1 think this is a bad idea?he’s been COY,coached a mvp,and has the best win loss record out of the leading candidates…if u ask me its a no-brainer hire…dismantle that archaic triangle offense that ol’ phil forced upon us and let Kobe do work…WELCOME ABOARD MIKE!!!

  • Jeremy

    I wonder what Phil’s record was without a Kobe, or Jordan, or Pippen or the plethora of talent he has had at his disposal on ALL 11 of his championship teams.. does everyone really think Jax is that incredible? I think coaches like Lionel Hollins, that do more with way less… now those deserve some credit.

    Give Mike Brown a chance, the Cavs won ALOT of games.. yeah they had Lebron, but I think that the Lakers need a new voice anyways, and maybe this can be a good thing.

  • Sean B

    Jeremy can you name a coach who has won a championship, or multiple championships, without great players?

  • dnice

    jeremy i’ve always said the same thing. winning championships is and always will be about talent. that’s why mia going to the finals. not because of spoelstra but because of having 3 top 15 talents on their squad.

  • dnice

    @ sean b – larry brown.

  • Groves

    kobe wants to win at least one more championship before retirement

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uk3FWToczA EJ

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uk3FWToczA EJ

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  • HAMMER

    A mediocre coach 4 a high profile team. But hey, im not complaining. As a Laker hater, fine w/me.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Phil Jackson won 11 titles in 20 years. That is incredible. Squeezing these 2 last titles out of LA is pretty impressive too, considering the ego’s and Kobe Bryant’s little tantrum in 07. Phil Jackson is the GOAT and him and Shaq are the reason so many people overrate Kobe all time.

  • tomtom

    CRU_THIK305 Tell me one thing i said that wasn’t correct. ?? I agree he is a good defensive coach and thats a nice attribute for an assistant coach. But a man who cammands respect and admiration from superstar players and a cast full of veteral ex-champs. Hell No. Ofcourse, if he takes us back to the promise land i will deny i ever said this.

  • HAMMER

    A mediocre coach @ the helm of a high profile team. But hey, i’m not complaining. As a Laker hater, fine by moi

  • http://slamonline.com 1982

    @Jeremy, it’s not just the fact that Phil won with high caliber players, it’s also the fact that those same high caliber players didn’t do ISH before he came along. He had a lot of talent, that’s true. But it wasn’t one way – the real question: What were their records BEFORE they got Jackson? The Bulls lost multiple times to the Pistons, and the Lakers got far every year, but always got swept in their exits. Jax won the first year he got to LA, and the next year with Chicago. Both were three-peats, by the way.

  • NJ4Life

    Larry Brown won a title with spare parts no one else wanted.

  • RedRum

    Big mistake. These “defensive expert” coaches cannot win a championship. Look what is happening to the Bulls and Thibs. In the playoffs, especially in the Conference Finals and Finals, you need offense. Each teams plays each other so many times that very few things can create surprises. The coach needs offensive creativity. Brown has shown none.

  • http://slamonline.com 1982

    There’s a huge difference between Ben Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Chauncy, and Prince in their primes (arguably), and spare parts that no one else wanted. Oh, and that one Rasheed fella, he was alright as well, if I’m not mistaken.

  • Zarfan

    @RedRum *cough* Spurs *cough*

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