ducks
06-05-2005, 05:21 PM
Pistons set to do Flip
When Brown exits, Saunders to enter
Larry Brown
AUBURN HILLS - News and views on the coaching carousel and recent front-office maneuverings in the NBA:
# Detroit. Once Larry Brown leaves to take over the Cleveland Cavs, this job will go to Flip Saunders. From what team sources say, the ex-Minnesota coach is the one and only candidate to replace Brown. The Pistons view Saunders as a young Chuck Daly. Nate McMillan's name has been floated for the job, but we hear the Sonics coach, a free agent, is not a serious contender.
As for Brown, it was not very original thinking on his part to blame the media for what he created during the East finals. He brought it all on himself. If the Pistons fall short of defending their title, this postseason in Detroit will be remembered for how Brown bailed out on his team.
Well, at least one of them.
We wouldn't want to shortchange him, but by our count, he has been holding down at least three jobs. He's been an unofficial consultant to the Philadelphia 76ers. He's the head coach of the Pistons. And he's the president of the Cavaliers. It must be a record.
# Minnesota. Owner Glen Taylor heeded the advice of Kevin Garnett, who wanted no part of Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo. Gee, wonder where K.G. would have come to that conclusion? Perhaps a talk with Latrell Sprewell? In doing so, Taylor also went against the wishes of his VP, Kevin McHale. McHale lashed out at Garnett, in absentia, when he heard that Taylor had sided with his star player.
So what happens now? T-Wolves suits rate it a three-horse race. Taylor, a patient man, has not completely ruled out Carlesimo, who has to overcome some big obstacles, including the Sprewell incident. Carlesimo is seen in some quarters as aloof with players. Then there's Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who didn't exactly mind that his name was mentioned for the Cleveland and Orlando jobs. He's rebuffed Taylor's overtures, but is expected to be called again. And as a fallback candidate, ex-Minnesota coach Sidney Lowe is getting some consideration.
# Cleveland. LeBron James didn't exactly have a great time in Athens playing for Larry Brown last summer. Even though he was one of the most dominant players in practices for the U.S., James couldn't get any playing time. So how did King James come to accept the fact that Brown is going to head up the Cavs? A member of LeBron's "kitchen cabinet" and a friend to such players as Allen Iverson and Richard Hamilton, Wes Wesley, is a frequent visitor to Pistons practices and games. Spies say he worked as the go-between, although Wesley isn't taking any credit.
Brown's main personnel man in Cleveland will be Milt Newton, who played for Brown at Kansas and has worked for the Washington Wizards and the NBA's developmental league.
"Larry is very much his mentor," said one of Newton's business associates. "It will be interesting to see how Milt stands up to Larry when it comes to personnel issues. Larry will listen to Milt." During this whole Larry Brown-to-Cleveland story, the one thing that's been lost is how Brown will do when he's in charge of a roster. "It could be a disaster," said one Western Conference executive. "He usually wants to trade everybody who's not on the injured list."
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/315948p-270372c.html
When Brown exits, Saunders to enter
Larry Brown
AUBURN HILLS - News and views on the coaching carousel and recent front-office maneuverings in the NBA:
# Detroit. Once Larry Brown leaves to take over the Cleveland Cavs, this job will go to Flip Saunders. From what team sources say, the ex-Minnesota coach is the one and only candidate to replace Brown. The Pistons view Saunders as a young Chuck Daly. Nate McMillan's name has been floated for the job, but we hear the Sonics coach, a free agent, is not a serious contender.
As for Brown, it was not very original thinking on his part to blame the media for what he created during the East finals. He brought it all on himself. If the Pistons fall short of defending their title, this postseason in Detroit will be remembered for how Brown bailed out on his team.
Well, at least one of them.
We wouldn't want to shortchange him, but by our count, he has been holding down at least three jobs. He's been an unofficial consultant to the Philadelphia 76ers. He's the head coach of the Pistons. And he's the president of the Cavaliers. It must be a record.
# Minnesota. Owner Glen Taylor heeded the advice of Kevin Garnett, who wanted no part of Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo. Gee, wonder where K.G. would have come to that conclusion? Perhaps a talk with Latrell Sprewell? In doing so, Taylor also went against the wishes of his VP, Kevin McHale. McHale lashed out at Garnett, in absentia, when he heard that Taylor had sided with his star player.
So what happens now? T-Wolves suits rate it a three-horse race. Taylor, a patient man, has not completely ruled out Carlesimo, who has to overcome some big obstacles, including the Sprewell incident. Carlesimo is seen in some quarters as aloof with players. Then there's Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who didn't exactly mind that his name was mentioned for the Cleveland and Orlando jobs. He's rebuffed Taylor's overtures, but is expected to be called again. And as a fallback candidate, ex-Minnesota coach Sidney Lowe is getting some consideration.
# Cleveland. LeBron James didn't exactly have a great time in Athens playing for Larry Brown last summer. Even though he was one of the most dominant players in practices for the U.S., James couldn't get any playing time. So how did King James come to accept the fact that Brown is going to head up the Cavs? A member of LeBron's "kitchen cabinet" and a friend to such players as Allen Iverson and Richard Hamilton, Wes Wesley, is a frequent visitor to Pistons practices and games. Spies say he worked as the go-between, although Wesley isn't taking any credit.
Brown's main personnel man in Cleveland will be Milt Newton, who played for Brown at Kansas and has worked for the Washington Wizards and the NBA's developmental league.
"Larry is very much his mentor," said one of Newton's business associates. "It will be interesting to see how Milt stands up to Larry when it comes to personnel issues. Larry will listen to Milt." During this whole Larry Brown-to-Cleveland story, the one thing that's been lost is how Brown will do when he's in charge of a roster. "It could be a disaster," said one Western Conference executive. "He usually wants to trade everybody who's not on the injured list."
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/315948p-270372c.html