Larry taking Tar Heel crew to NY?
Larry Brown's introduction to his eighth NBA head coaching job -- this one with the New York Knicks -- is expected to come any day now.
To me, this guy's got a lot of questions ahead of him, and plenty trailing behind him, too. Going forward, there's the question of the 64-year-old coach's health. Does he have the ability and willingness to put up with NY's fan & media circus while resurrecting the beleaguered Knicks franchise? If so, for more than a year or two before burnout or boredom ... or blazed bridges with management? Will he get paid over $60 mil, double Phil Jackson money? And folks with UNC ties are probably wondering if Brown will be able to secure jobs in the Big Apple for former Tar Heel assistants Phil Ford, Dave Hanners and Pat Sullivan. They worked for him in Detroit, and he was reportedly trying to get them work in Cleveland.
About Cleveland. That remains the big source of angst looking back. Why did he actively flirt with the Cavaliers during the Pistons' playoff run? How much respect did he lose among his players and how much did he torch relations with his bosses? With the success he was having in Detroit, why did his tenure there go all to hell?
I'm in the camp that believes Brown's a brilliant coach. But if I'm an NBA owner, I think I might just run the other way when I see him coming. What a paradoxical character. Listen in tomorrow to our Radio Free Sports podcast (should be up at our Web site after noon) to hear more discussion on the nomadic coach.
Comments (4)
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Do the Knicks have a JV team for Ford, Hanners or Sullivan to coach?
Posted on July 27, 2005 4:17 PM
I'm convinced Larry Brown is the smartest man in sports. He never hangs around long enough to wear out his welcome - once he takes a team as far as he can take them, he splits.
The Knicks won't be his last coaching stop. Just wait: he'll go to New York, improve the team by 8-10 wins (the guy really can coach) and leave for the next gig in a couple of years. Oh, and he'll get a huge buyout from the Knicks and an even bigger contract from his new team, just like he always does.
Sure, the Knicks aren't as good as the Pistons. But Brown did as much in Detroit as he was going to do. They won a title and went to game 7 of the finals this year. It would've been hard to duplicate that next year and Brown knows it.
The Knicks have been bad for so long that just making the playoffs this year will be considered a success.
Posted on July 28, 2005 5:29 PM
A follow-up: According to the New York Daily News, Brown does intend to bring Dave Hanners and Phil Ford with him to the Knicks. The paper reports that Pat "Oh, no, not" Sullivan will join Lawrence Frank's staff with the New Jersey Nets.
Posted on July 28, 2005 11:52 PM
Wow, that's interesting; Phil Ford in the Big Apple! Add Phil to the point guard list mentioned in todays paper - Brown, Isiah, Phil, and Marbury - what a fascinating combination. Phil is great with young players, I look for Jamal Crawford to flourish if he'll play defense - Marbury will be traded.
The Michael-Isiah feud is well known; do you think all these Carolina guys can make it work with Isiah?
Posted on July 29, 2005 3:34 PM