DETROIT (AP) – Larry Brown will be introduced as the coach of the Detroit Pistons at a news conference Monday, a source within the league said.
Brown reached an agreement on a five-year deal worth about $25 million, said the source, who had knowledge of the discussions between the Pistons and Brown and spoke Sunday to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
Brown replaces Rick Carlisle, who was fired Saturday. Brown did not return numerous phone messages left at his home during the weekend.
“Larry Brown is obviously a great coach and his record speaks for itself,” Carlisle said Sunday. “That’s a great hire.”
Carlisle was asked if he thought Brown was hired before he was fired.
“I’m not going to get into that,” Carlisle said.
Pistons spokesman Kevin Grigg said Sunday he could not confirm a news conference would be held.
Carlisle was fired after leading Detroit to a 50-win season and a spot in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1991.
Brown resigned as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers on May 26 after six seasons.
At a bizarre news conference Saturday, Carlisle sat elbow-to-elbow with the man who had just fired him, Joe Dumars.
Carlisle poked fun at himself during an opening statement, then initiated jokes and even defended Dumars’ decision when he was pressed to explain the dismissal.
“If you think he’s going to bring in a stiff behind me, you’re nuts,” Carlisle said Saturday, cutting off Dumars’ response to a question. “He’s going to bring in a big-time guy, and if he can do that he will have done his job.”
Brown, a Hall of Famer, was released from a contractual clause that prohibited him from coaching another NBA team if he left Philadelphia prematurely.
When asked about Brown on Saturday, Dumars said, “We’ll be talking to him,” adding that he had heard Brown’s name linked to openings in Houston, Cleveland and Washington.
Carlisle was fired with one year and $2 million left on his contract despite winning two straight division titles, 100 regular-season games, a Coach of the Year award and leading the Pistons to two postseason series victories for the first time since 1991.
Philadelphia captain Eric Snow understood why the Pistons were going after his former coach.
“With Rick Carlisle gone, it would be great for Detroit’s organization if it was fortunate enough to get Larry Brown,” Snow said Saturday. “He’s a Hall of Famer who is a great coach and a great teacher that would make every one of their players better, and that would make the Pistons even better.”
AP: Cavaliers reach agreement with Silas
Paul Silas will be the new coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers after reaching agreement with the team on a long-term contract, The Associated Press learned Sunday.
The deal was being finalized Sunday, according to two sources with knowledge of the talks who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
Silas beat out former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, who had several discussions with Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund and general manager Jim Paxson about the possibility of becoming LeBron James’ first pro coach.
The Cavaliers have the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft and have said they will select James, the 18-year-old high school phenom from Akron.
“They decided, and they got a great guy. I’m fine with it,” Van Gundy said.
Silas was let go by the New Orleans Hornets at the conclusion of the regular season following his fifth season with the team.
He was a candidate for several other coaching vacancies around the league.
Silas could not immediately be reached for comment. Cavaliers spokesman Tad Carper said the team would hold a 4:30 p.m. EDT news conference Monday at Gund Arena for “a major announcement.”
Silas turns 60 in July and has said he would welcome the chance to coach James.
He fits the profile of a veteran NBA coach that Gund and Paxson have sought to groom James.
After four 50-loss seasons, James has Clevelanders talking about basketball again, and his impending selection in the June 26 draft has set off a flurry of season ticket sales at Gund Arena.
The Cavaliers were looking for a teacher for James and the team’s other young players, including Dajuan Wagner, Ricky Davis and Darius Miles.
Silas had an overall mark of 208-155 with the Hornets, taking them to the playoffs each of the past four seasons – although they’ve never advanced beyond the second round.
Silas was popular among fans and his players. Hornets point guard Baron Davis and others said after their final game that they wanted Silas to return next season.
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