Pistons < Spurs
05-15-2006, 11:59 PM
Brown's Camp Delivers a Denial Heard Before
New York Times
By HOWARD BECK
Published: May 16, 2006
There are growing indications that the Knicks are ready to sever ties with Coach Larry Brown and replace him with Isiah Thomas, the team president. The franchise has apparently resolved to make the move, with only the details of when and how to be worked out.
But Brown's longtime agent, Joe Glass, who has negotiated every one of his contracts — and orchestrated every early exit — says there is no exit for Brown on the horizon. If the Knicks have other ideas, and Glass said he last spoke with team officials a week ago, they have yet to say so.
"Nobody has ever said anything to me or anyone else that they didn't want Larry back," Glass said yesterday, addressing reports that the Knicks intended to dismiss Brown. "He is physically, mentally and professionally ready to assume his responsibilities as coach of the Knicks."
Later in the day, Glass and Thomas discussed Brown's status by phone.
"I spoke to Isiah Thomas earlier this afternoon and he categorically denied there's any substances to what was in the paper," Glass told The Associated Press.
Brown presided over a 23-59 season, the team's worst in two decades, and he alienated many of his players. He irritated team officials with his frequent critiques of the roster and with his feud with guard Stephon Marbury. Brown has four years and more than $40 million left on a five-year deal he signed last July.
The franchise's disillusionment with Brown has been widely reported. The New York Post first reported Sunday that Knicks ownership was ready to sign off on a buyout of Brown's contract.
An Eastern Conference executive who had spoken with Knicks officials said yesterday that Brown's dismissal was a certainty. The executive also confirmed that Thomas, at the direction of the ownership, planned to replace Brown. The executive was granted anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about another team's decisions.
Knicks officials continue to decline comment.
This is the second straight spring that Brown's coaching status has turned into a messy soap opera. A year ago, while coaching the Pistons in the playoffs, Brown created bad feelings with his bosses by inquiring about a position with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Questions about Brown's health also posed a problem for Pistons officials, who eventually bought out Brown's contract.
Even as those negotiations moved forward, Brown and Glass denied that he would leave the Pistons. Glass is now issuing nearly verbatim denials.
Brown is again coping with health problems, although they do not appear to be as serious. Brown had what Glass said was "a minor surgical procedure" last Friday. Glass declined to offer specifics, but two friends of Brown said it was another attempt to correct his bladder condition. They said they believed the operation was successful. The friends were granted anonymity because Brown wanted his health issues to remain private.
"He's recovering nicely," Glass said. "He's the coach of the Knicks, and ready and willing and able, and he intends to follow through on his commitment to coach the Knicks."
Glass also denied a report yesterday in The New York Times that representatives for Brown had inquired about his coaching the Charlotte Bobcats. He expressed frustration with reports that questioned Brown's job security. "The conjecturing going on through the papers from these anonymous sources is something I have a hard time dealing with," Glass said.
The Knicks would still have to negotiate a buyout settlement with Glass, or swallow the more than $40 million owed Brown. Glass negotiated a $7 million buyout with Detroit last summer. If ties were severed, Brown would presumably be free to entertain other offers. Charlotte and Sacramento are possibilities, but those who know Brown well say Golden State may be the most logical landing place.
At age 65, Brown ideally would seek a team that is playoff-ready. Brown and his wife, Shelly, prefer to live in a big city. And Brown would like to work for an organization that would allow him to move into a front-office role if he was unable to coach.
The Warriors meet those qualifications. Brown is friends with Chris Cohan, the Warriors' owner; they own homes in the Hamptons and have socialized in the summer. The Warriors are young and deep and could be playoff contenders. They have struggled the last two seasons under Mike Montgomery, whose job status is considered shaky.
Ousting Brown now, although it would cost the Knicks tens of millions of dollars, is viewed by some team officials as the easier path — and perhaps the more financially sound one.
They are concerned that keeping Brown — and keeping him happy — would necessitate a messy, and expensive, roster overhaul. Dumping the hefty contracts of Jalen Rose, Maurice Taylor, Marbury or Steve Francis may require the Knicks to take back even more onerous long-term contracts, further inflating the payroll and the team's luxury-tax payments. It would also cost tens of millions of dollars to buy out or waive players Brown deems undesirable.
New York Times
By HOWARD BECK
Published: May 16, 2006
There are growing indications that the Knicks are ready to sever ties with Coach Larry Brown and replace him with Isiah Thomas, the team president. The franchise has apparently resolved to make the move, with only the details of when and how to be worked out.
But Brown's longtime agent, Joe Glass, who has negotiated every one of his contracts — and orchestrated every early exit — says there is no exit for Brown on the horizon. If the Knicks have other ideas, and Glass said he last spoke with team officials a week ago, they have yet to say so.
"Nobody has ever said anything to me or anyone else that they didn't want Larry back," Glass said yesterday, addressing reports that the Knicks intended to dismiss Brown. "He is physically, mentally and professionally ready to assume his responsibilities as coach of the Knicks."
Later in the day, Glass and Thomas discussed Brown's status by phone.
"I spoke to Isiah Thomas earlier this afternoon and he categorically denied there's any substances to what was in the paper," Glass told The Associated Press.
Brown presided over a 23-59 season, the team's worst in two decades, and he alienated many of his players. He irritated team officials with his frequent critiques of the roster and with his feud with guard Stephon Marbury. Brown has four years and more than $40 million left on a five-year deal he signed last July.
The franchise's disillusionment with Brown has been widely reported. The New York Post first reported Sunday that Knicks ownership was ready to sign off on a buyout of Brown's contract.
An Eastern Conference executive who had spoken with Knicks officials said yesterday that Brown's dismissal was a certainty. The executive also confirmed that Thomas, at the direction of the ownership, planned to replace Brown. The executive was granted anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about another team's decisions.
Knicks officials continue to decline comment.
This is the second straight spring that Brown's coaching status has turned into a messy soap opera. A year ago, while coaching the Pistons in the playoffs, Brown created bad feelings with his bosses by inquiring about a position with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Questions about Brown's health also posed a problem for Pistons officials, who eventually bought out Brown's contract.
Even as those negotiations moved forward, Brown and Glass denied that he would leave the Pistons. Glass is now issuing nearly verbatim denials.
Brown is again coping with health problems, although they do not appear to be as serious. Brown had what Glass said was "a minor surgical procedure" last Friday. Glass declined to offer specifics, but two friends of Brown said it was another attempt to correct his bladder condition. They said they believed the operation was successful. The friends were granted anonymity because Brown wanted his health issues to remain private.
"He's recovering nicely," Glass said. "He's the coach of the Knicks, and ready and willing and able, and he intends to follow through on his commitment to coach the Knicks."
Glass also denied a report yesterday in The New York Times that representatives for Brown had inquired about his coaching the Charlotte Bobcats. He expressed frustration with reports that questioned Brown's job security. "The conjecturing going on through the papers from these anonymous sources is something I have a hard time dealing with," Glass said.
The Knicks would still have to negotiate a buyout settlement with Glass, or swallow the more than $40 million owed Brown. Glass negotiated a $7 million buyout with Detroit last summer. If ties were severed, Brown would presumably be free to entertain other offers. Charlotte and Sacramento are possibilities, but those who know Brown well say Golden State may be the most logical landing place.
At age 65, Brown ideally would seek a team that is playoff-ready. Brown and his wife, Shelly, prefer to live in a big city. And Brown would like to work for an organization that would allow him to move into a front-office role if he was unable to coach.
The Warriors meet those qualifications. Brown is friends with Chris Cohan, the Warriors' owner; they own homes in the Hamptons and have socialized in the summer. The Warriors are young and deep and could be playoff contenders. They have struggled the last two seasons under Mike Montgomery, whose job status is considered shaky.
Ousting Brown now, although it would cost the Knicks tens of millions of dollars, is viewed by some team officials as the easier path — and perhaps the more financially sound one.
They are concerned that keeping Brown — and keeping him happy — would necessitate a messy, and expensive, roster overhaul. Dumping the hefty contracts of Jalen Rose, Maurice Taylor, Marbury or Steve Francis may require the Knicks to take back even more onerous long-term contracts, further inflating the payroll and the team's luxury-tax payments. It would also cost tens of millions of dollars to buy out or waive players Brown deems undesirable.