Lakers Near Agreement to Hire Mike Brown as Coach
Mike Brown left the epicenter of the N.B.A. last summer when his Cleveland Cavaliers imploded in the playoffs against the Boston Celtics and LeBron James arrived at his long-speculated free agency. Before James made The Decision to leave for Miami, the Cavaliers reached their own and dismissed Brown, who had steered the Cavaliers to the N.B.A.’s best record for two seasons, but not to a championship. It appears Brown is on the verge of re-entering the N.B.A.’s main stage by coaching the Los Angeles Lakers and its superstar, Kobe Bryant. Brown and the Lakers verbally agreed to a four-year contract, according to two people with knowledge of the negotiations who are not authorized to speak publicly about the deal. “In response to nike free run rampant speculation and reports about our head coaching position and Mike Brown, we’ve met with Mike and are very impressed by him,” the Lakers said in a statement Wednesday. “In addition, we have an outline for an agreement in place and hope to sign a contract within the next few days.” Brown will assume the coaching reins from Jackson, who retired with a record 11 championships, the last five earned in Los Angeles. The two have contrasting coaching styles: Brown preaches defense first, while Jackson emphasized the benefits and purity of his triangle offense. Brown, 41, compiled a record of 272-138 in Cleveland and won coach of the year honors in 2009. “Mike Brown is a great coach,” James told reporters Wednesday as Miami prepared for Game 5 against the Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals. “He brought us success that we hadn’t had before in that city, and it started with his defensive concepts. He brought in a defensive mind-set that we didn’t have.” BULLS’ ASIK HAS BROKEN LEG Omer Asik, the Chicago Bulls’ backup center, will miss the rest of the postseason because of a broken left fibula.