Sorry if this has already been posted, I deemed it worthy news of a new thread....... <b>Brown expected to make decision in midweek</b> The Philadelphia 76ers should know by midweek whether Larry Brown will return for a seventh season as coach. Brown is expected to inform the team of his intentions at a meeting with Ed Snider, chairman of the 76ers' ownership group, two sources close to Brown told The Associated Press on Sunday. The two spoke on condition they not be identified. Snider told the Philadelphia Daily News last week that the team needs to "move on'' if Brown has lost his enthusiasm for coaching the 76ers. Snider also told the paper he thought Brown was leaning toward not returning. Brown has been on vacation since his team was eliminated by Detroit in the second round of the playoffs. He did not return a telephone message left at his home. Brown has two years left on his contract, which prohibits him from coaching another NBA team if he leaves prematurely. If Brown decides to leave, a big question during his meeting with Snider will be whether the 76ers release him from that clause, the sources said. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Hornets and Toronto Raptors have coaching vacancies. Other coaches, including Terry Stotts in Atlanta, Dennis Johnson of the Los Angeles Clippers and Jeff Bzdelik of Denver, might be considered expendable if Brown becomes available. Some of those teams have expressed an interest in hiring former New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, who cannot sign elsewhere before Aug. 1 without the permission of his former employer. But Brown's availability would alter a lot of teams' options. Brown has been with Philadelphia for six seasons -- the longest tenure of an NBA coaching career that included stints with the Denver Nuggets (five years), Indiana Pacers (four years), San Antonio Spurs (3½ years), New Jersey Nets and ABA Carolina Cougars (each two years) and the Clippers (18 months). Brown also spent five seasons as head coach at Kansas, winning the NCAA championship in 1988, and two seasons at UCLA. Brown thought he was going to take over at North Carolina in 2000 before Matt Doherty was hired. Brown has said that former North Carolina coach Dean Smith offered him the job, only to be overruled by school administrators. When Doherty resigned in April, Brown told reporters he was upset he wasn't mentioned as a candidate. Former Kansas coach and longtime Smith assistant Roy Williams got the job. "He didn't say it to me. He wasn't asked (to take over UNC.) And he said it after they had already selected a coach. He didn't say it before,'' Snider was quoted as saying in the Daily News. ``I would have really been upset if he said it when Carolina was still looking for a coach. "Larry talks, and he says things; he changes his mind the next day,'' Snider told the paper. "When you take Larry, you take that. I'm not going to get upset about things unless I know that they're actually going to happen.'' Brown will coach the U.S. men's national team this summer at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico. Brown's team, which includes Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan and Philadelphia's Allen Iverson, will try to win one of three spots in the 2004 Olympics for nations from the FIBA-Americas zone. USA Basketball spokesman Craig Miller said if Brown leaves the 76ers it would not affect his status as coach of the U.S. team. "He has to meet certain criteria when selected, but after that he does not necessarily have to be coaching actively,'' Miller said. _______________________________________________ In my humble opinion, I think he will be a Rocket.
Anyone else think the Sixers might stop him from coaching elsewhere straight away after resigning, cause he has lost his desire to coach.
Not a chance. Larry Brown is one of the mose respected coaches in the game. Plus I read he's real good buds with Billy King. Theres no way they would do that. If they were stupid enough to do such a thing it would haunt that franchise for many years to come.. the many players and coaches who respect Larry Brown would see that as a pretty low and vindictive thing to do. thaCabbage, I'm leaning toward Larry Brown. People say he's seems tired with coaching because he's old and all that but from what I see it seems he's just bored with the same team. They say this is the longest he's been with a team in awhile so it seems to me that Larry Brown is just looking for a new challenge. And Houston will offer him that fresh challenge he may be looking for. Lets hope the prospects of a new start with a new team revitalize his coaching ambitions. There is one reason above all that has me leaning toward Larry Brown. The Rudy Factor: If theres one guy Rudy will feel comfortable around, its Larry Brown. Larry is his senior and Rudy seems to have a lot of respect and admiration for the man. It may be tough for Rudy to be around the players and past associates in Houston with a some younger new head coach running things, even though Rudy seems like a selfless kind of guy, there still may be some pride for him to swallow. He may not come around as much as he would if say Larry Brown was coaching his team, a man who is his elder and he seems to admire as a coach and friend.
That is what I am hoping. Also....Les the ____ owner....admires Larry Brown as well. So Rockets would love him. But I don't know if Larry wants to come here. I would give up 2 2nd round draft picks and buy his contract to get him.
I find this to be extremely interesting timing. If the Rockets were indeed forced to announce Rudy's stepping down last week because of Berman going on TV and spilling the beans (we know that cc.net had the scoop but it takes a tv, radio or print media source to force a move), that would mean they had intended to wait until after the holiday as many had speculated. If they had wanted to wait until Tuesday or Wednesday, the very fact that Brown is meeting with Philly on Tuesday AND is supposedly leaning towards not coming back seems almost too ironic to be coinicidence.
Every thing that I know and see points to Larry Brown being the Rockets next coach. But there are some in the know who swear it's going to be Van Gundy. I really think it's a two-horse race ... anyone else would surprise me. But as for which one, I really don't know - but my gut says Brown.
C'mon Larry! I really think his experiences with Iverson would really help Francis figure out what he is on the floor.
I read that the Philadelphia version of Chris Wragge is reporting tonight that Brown is leaving the 76er's, and that Philly will not require compensation even though Brown's contract requires it for the next two years... Sorry, no link except for a phone number on the reporter's webpage on NBC 10 in Philly. http://www.nbc10.com/sports/1225740/detail.html
Wow, that would be great news! Rockets no lower than 6th seed next year. I wonder if we are still going to get rid of Cat and Rice in the offseason?
I'm with Clutch on this one. Van Gundy is a good guy and Dunleavy is as well but Brown is the biggest name in coaching available (or should be available) to the Rockets. He, Rudy and CD are friends. His ability to get the most out of teams and develop young talent is nearly legendary. I also think it is interesting that Jonathan Feigen, unlike many of the other local sports reporters who are fixated on Van Gundy, has stated several times that Les loves Larry Brown. Remember that even the appearance of a prior arrangement of any kind with Brown (being that he is under contract) would be a serious violation of league rules. It could cost the team money and draft picks. If the team is talking about Van Gundy openly, it is likely because he is available and Brown simply isn't...yet.
Exactly right Jeff. Not to mention the fact that if he just goes out and signs a guy immediately then he'll catch hell from the fans and media who already feel Rudy was pushed out...
Who wants to call Eskin, the reporter who broke the scoop about LB leaving the Sixers and that no compensation is required for the team that picks him up? For more information call: NBC 10 Press Department Phone: (610) 668-5775 Fax: (610) 668-7059 Not it!!! Just pretend you are a Houston beat reporter following up on his wonderful story#$%@#%
I really hope it's Larry Brown, but I'm getting a freaky feeling that Jeff Van Gumby is going to be thrown upon us. I just have one question, why hasn't Jeff signed with the Cavs yet?
He could be pushing for a fatter contract by using the Rockets against them. I don't think he's got a legit shot with the Rockets. Les hasn't been calling for a slow the ball down and play D system for the last couple seasons... Brown then Dunleavy, two man race...
Chris Wraggle of Channel 2 NBC affliate in Houston stated that Espn radio report that Van Gundy will probably sign with the Cavs tomorrow. Interestingly, Lebron James on TNT tonight seems to endorse Larry Brown as his new coach. He call Brown a great teacher. Things should be very interesting next week. My guts feeling is also for Larry Brown to be our next coach.
Just goes to show you that LaBron isn't just talented, he's got brains too. Way to put pressure on your team kid! This could have something to do with why Cleveland is still considering all their options (as reported by JVG the other night)
I don't know if he got brain! People asked him about JVG and Jeff was right there listening in and Labron went on and praised Brown without a word to acknowlege Jeff. Considering there is a better chance that Jeff will be his head coach than Larry. I don't see any chance in hell that would make Larry want to join Cleveland!
He's just making his preferance known. He's gotta be pretty arrogant at this point with all the money and attention. Its not like JVG could risk saying anything bad about the savior of the team he's about to go to. The kid has all the pull and there isn't anything JVG can do about it. IF he ends up coaching the kid then his fortunes will rest with LaBron. Look how many coaches the lakers went through trying to find someone whom Kobe responded to... JVG has been very careful not to say anything to anybody that would get him in trouble, he's not about to start now...
I'm all for Brown as our coach. Let him come in and whip these young pups into NBA fighting form. If any of the current crop of available coaches can get this team into the finals in the next couple of years, it's Brown. If he gets bored and bails out after 3-5 years, as he's done at most of his other stops, then we bring a healthy Rudy back to handle the then-veteran squad. Rudy does exceptionally well with vets -- he's just not that great with young guys who need a firmer hand.
Bringing Rudy back after Brown wouldn't work because Rudy would probably want to go back to HIS offense, which we've seen doesn't do so well in the modern NBA...
