Former Cleveland Cavalier head coach Mike Brown will officially take over the reins of the Los Angeles Lakers, replacing iconic coach Phil Jackson, who retired after 11 seasons with the Lakers. Brown will be the 22nd coach of the storied franchise.
At the end of a day filled with rumors regarding the coach’s intentions, the Lakers issued this statement, “In response to rampant speculation and reports about our head coaching position and Mike Brown, we’ve met with Mike and are very impressed with him. In addition, we have an outline for an agreement in place and hope to sign a contract within the next few days.”
The deal is reportedly worth $18.25 million over four years. Brown is expected to travel from Cleveland this week to officially sign the deal.
Brown was fired from the Cavaliers at the end of last season, his fifth with the team. He took them to the playoffs in each year of his tenure, including a trip to the Finals in 2007, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs. Brown was named Coach of the Year after the 2008-2009 season. His winning percentage (.663) was the best of any coach in the team’s history.
His departure from the Cavaliers was riddled with speculation that the move was made to entice LeBron James to stay in Cleveland. James “took his talents to South Beach,” Brown took a job as an analyst and the Cavaliers had an atrocious year, winning only 19 games. Perhaps a shot at coaching one of the premier programs in the NBA will offer vindication for Brown.
Brown will have a busy offseason, as the aging Lakers will need to pick up some fresh legs in free agency and the draft. Defense will be Brown’s top priority, a large reason he was hired by the Lakers.
At the end of a day filled with rumors regarding the coach’s intentions, the Lakers issued this statement, “In response to rampant speculation and reports about our head coaching position and Mike Brown, we’ve met with Mike and are very impressed with him. In addition, we have an outline for an agreement in place and hope to sign a contract within the next few days.”
The deal is reportedly worth $18.25 million over four years. Brown is expected to travel from Cleveland this week to officially sign the deal.
Brown was fired from the Cavaliers at the end of last season, his fifth with the team. He took them to the playoffs in each year of his tenure, including a trip to the Finals in 2007, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs. Brown was named Coach of the Year after the 2008-2009 season. His winning percentage (.663) was the best of any coach in the team’s history.
His departure from the Cavaliers was riddled with speculation that the move was made to entice LeBron James to stay in Cleveland. James “took his talents to South Beach,” Brown took a job as an analyst and the Cavaliers had an atrocious year, winning only 19 games. Perhaps a shot at coaching one of the premier programs in the NBA will offer vindication for Brown.
Brown will have a busy offseason, as the aging Lakers will need to pick up some fresh legs in free agency and the draft. Defense will be Brown’s top priority, a large reason he was hired by the Lakers.
