Lakers reach agreement in principle with Mike Brown

The Los Angeles Lakers have reached an agreement in principle with Mike Brown, former coach of Cleveland to succeed Phil Jackson, the team said Wednesday.

"We have met Mike and are very impressed with him, said a statement issued by the Lakers." Moreover, us dispose of a framework agreement and hope to sign a contract in the coming days. ?

Brown is going to get a contract for four years about 18 million, a person with knowledge of the Associated Press said discussions Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the Lakers had not yet formally hired Brown.

With a strong interview last weekend, Brown jumped in front of the line of candidates for the challenge to succeed the NBA Championship by 11 times Jackson with one of the emblematic NBA franchises. Brown will be the 22nd coach of the Lakers, whose 16 trail only Boston Celtics 17 NBA titles in the history of the League.

Instead of promoting one of the assistant coaches of Jackson, the Lakers are changing course after a brutal end to their reign two years and the departure of long expected of Jackson, the coach with the most rings champion in the history of the NBA.

After nearly quit last summer, Jackson withdrew earlier this month after the Dallas Mavericks, swept defending twice champion Lakers out of the second round of the playoffs.

While Kobe Bryant approved assistant Jackson Brian Shaw for the vacant position, Jim Buss - Executive Vice President of Lakers of staff of the player and the son of the owner Jerry Buss - is intrigued by Brown after Saturday interview.

A young respected tactician with a strong pedigree of coaching, Brown also has ample experience with big games and the stars, even if it could not guide LeBron James for a title.

"I think it's awesome", James said in Miami, where he is preparing for the fifth game of the Eastern Conference finals.

ESPN, which uses Brown as an analyst this season, for the first time that Brown had been hired.

41 Years Brown led the Cavaliers in the NBA 2007 final and went to 272-138 for five years with Cleveland, become coach more success in the history of the franchise when winner compiling regular season of the League in each of his last two seasons.

But the year 2009 NBA coach was fired last spring after the release of dissension filled with all-time in the second round of the playoffs, and James left for Miami a few weeks later.

Although James was critical strategies for Brown at their last playoffs together, the double MVP NBA strongly supported his former coach Wednesday.

"Mike Brown is a great coach," said James. "He brought us the success that we have not had before in this city, and he started with his defensive concepts." He introduced in a defensive mindset that we did not. Fifty - more victories, he was coach of the year, there we have the (NBA) finals, won Conference finals is... due to him and his coaching staff. I respect. It has certainly helped me become who I am today. ?

Background Brown defence plot apparently the Lakers, whose title two last runs were built on solid defense led by Bryant and 7 feet shot-blocker Andrew Bynum, a favorite of Jim Buss. Brown is a former San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich Dallas coach Rick Carlisle, who used Brown as its Coordinator defensive to Indiana, where the Lakers before Ron Artest was named the NBA defensive player in 2004.