Report: Mike Brown to be named LA Lakers head coach

[King Taharqa]

Matt Steinmetz of CSN Bay Area reports that the Lakers will hire Mike Brown as their new head coach following the retirement of Phil Jackson. Steinmetz reports two sources confirming a four-year, $18 million deal for Brown. Previous reports had Brown close to a deal following owner Jerry Buss telling reporters that the Lakers were "very close" to a new head coach.

Brown brings plusses and minuses, as he is a stellar defensive coach respected by veterans like those the Lakers have. Conversely, Brown is also a questionable offensive coach, relying on offensive assistants for help in that area. He is known as a key motivator, which the Lakers could clearly use after a lackadaisical season. But there are questions about his ability to wrangle stars after the way LeBron James dominated the situation in Cleveland. Now he faces an even more ego-heavy locker room.

There was talk the next Lakers coach would have to take a payc ut, and should the report be accurate, this is a considerable cut from what Jackson made last season, and even more so from the extension Jackson signed before the 2009 season.

There will be questions as to why Rick Adelman was not given the job, but Brown is a capable coach who fits in well with the veteran Lakers squad. It's a move for both stability and change, just what Buss was looking for.

Brown, 41, coached the Cavaliers from 2005-2006 to 2000-2010, winning 50+ games in four of those five seasons. He took the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2006-2007. He was named the NBA's Coach of the Year in 2009 but parted ways with the team in the early summer of 2010, shortly before All-Star forward LeBron James left the franchise to play for the Miami Heat. Prior to his time in Cleveland, Brown was an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs.

His name first surfaced with regard to the Lakers position last week.

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/29558997

[Swarly]

lol I have a big feeling this won't end well

Kobe has to be drooling though.

[bLACKpANTHER]

[Kevin Greene]

As long as it ain't Dunleavy!

[Panthers128]

I don't know if this guy can coach. His teams won a lot of games though. Didn't feel he got a fair break with CLE.

[Dpantherman]

Chris_Broussard

Deal is done. Mike Brown and Lakers agree to 4-year, $18.25 million deal. Team option for 4th year. Brown gets $2.5 mil if option not taken

Kobe on board with hiring of Brown, has great respect for him, according to sources. Lakers will announce Brown hiring this afternoon.

http://twitter.com/#!/Chris_Broussard

[Hawk]

sweet....I'm no longer a racist as I now cheer for a team with a colored coach!!!!

not a bad signing for LA...we'll see.

[Carolina Husker]

lol good night sweet Lakers

[HeatCheck]

I'm guessing no more triangle offense. He has no experience with it. I am sure Shaw will stay with his staff and could help with it, if they stick with it. They might need personnel changes if they are changing offenses.

[King Taharqa]

No way Shaw stays, this is a slap in the face. He wanted that job, now he.ll probably take the Golden State job. Now we get to see how much Phil Jackson and the triangle O made Kobe. Lakers are done, Miami took their spot as the leagues glamour team.

[King Taharqa]

sweet....I'm no longer a racist as I now cheer for a team with a colored coach!!!!

not a bad signing for LA...we'll see.

People dont base their feelings about intelligence and place their worth and racial pride into coaches the way they do QB. So your point is moot. No one will be trying to convince us Mike Brown is a thug or cant gameplan or use his brain to make other coaches look inherently better. QB is the only thing in sports that brings out that sense of entitlement and eugenic ideal.

[Hawk]

I was totally just being a smart ass KT! It's all good!

[jtnc]

Slap in the face to Brian Shaw.

[C47]

No way Shaw stays, this is a slap in the face. He wanted that job, now he.ll probably take the Golden State job. Now we get to see how much Phil Jackson and the triangle O made Kobe. Lakers are done, Miami took their spot as the leagues glamour team.

What are you going to say when they're the best in the West heading into the playoffs next year....Phil didn't really coach much this year, but you wouldn't know that of course with how busy you were slurping your new bandwagon....