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.

Ex-all-time coach Brown is committed to lead the Lakers

Mike Brown is the new coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers were expected to announce Brown as the 22nd coach in franchise history Wednesday afternoon but first issued a 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," the team said. "In addition, we have an outline for an agreement in place and hope to sign a contract within the next few days."

Brown, who is currently in Cleveland, will sign the contract later this week. According to league sources, the deal will be for four years and $18.25 million.

The development is a victorious comeback for Brown, who was fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers almost a year ago to the day. Now, the 41-year-old Brown, the winningest coach in Cavaliers history, is leading one of the most prestigious and successful franchise in modern basketball history.

The contract is a three-year deal with a team option for a fourth year. If the Lakers don't pick up the option, Brown is guaranteed to receive $2.5 million.

Brown's union with the Lakers came together quickly. An ESPN analyst and the 2008-09 NBA coach of the year, he emerged as the leading candidate for the vacancy created when Phil Jackson retired after a strong face-to-face interview Saturday with Lakers brass including executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss, ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reported.

"I think it's great," said LeBron James, the face of the Cavs during Brown's tenure.

Brown, 41, guided Cleveland to the 2007 NBA Finals and two trips to the Eastern Conference finals in five seasons with the Cavaliers, posting a record of 272-138.

ESPN NBA Insider Chris Broussard explains why Mike Brown's coaching style and experience make him a great fit for the Lakers.

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While Brown's teams were noted for their defense, their offensive schemes were much maligned for their over-dependency on James to create without the consistent involvement of his teammates.

Although James was critical of Brown's strategies during their final playoff run together, the two-time NBA MVP strongly endorsed his former coach Wednesday.

"Mike Brown is a great coach," James said. "He brought us success that we hadn't had before in that city, and it started with his defensive concepts. He brought in a defensive mindset that we didn't have. Fifty-plus wins, he was coach of the year, he got us to the (NBA) Finals, won us the Eastern Conference finals ... because of him and his coaching staff. I respect him. He definitely helped me become who I am today."

Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss addressed the issue of the team's offense moving forward in an interview with SiriusXM Radio on Tuesday.

"We're not going to continue exclusively with the triangle," Buss told Playboy Radio's Michael Eaves and Bonnie-Jill Laflin. "Certainly, there will be facets of the triangle incorporated into any modern offense."

Brown would be likely to implement an offensive system similar to what the San Antonio Spurs run, which includes triangle principles, according to a Western Conference coach familiar with Brown's career. Brown was an assistant coach in San Antonio from 2000 to 2003.

Brown's interview, combined with his track record of success in Cleveland, moved him ahead of the two other candidates the Lakers interviewed, Rick Adelman and Brian Shaw.

 Mike Brown will become the sixth person to coach at least two games for the Lakers with Kobe Bryant. Only Phil Jackson won a title with Kobe but Del Harris did put together a higher winning percentage.

Shaw, a longtime Lakers assistant under Jackson, had a public endorsement from superstar Kobe Bryant, but Shaw will likely be moving on to another franchise after the hiring of Brown. He is a candidate for the head-coaching job in Golden State, though sources say the Warriors want to hire a coach with prior head-coaching experience.

Lakers brass did not consult Bryant during their coaching search, but sources say Bryant has great respect for Brown and is on board with the hiring.

With the Lakers realizing their hopes of landing Brown, runner-up Adelman would move to the Warriors' short list, sources told Bucher.

Former Minnesota Timberwolves coach Kevin McHale is also among the Warriors' top candidates. McHale was expected to meet with Rockets owner Les Alexander on Wednesday, but a source cautioned not to interpret that as McHale being on track to get the job. McHale is battling assistant coach Dwane Casey to succeed Adelman in Houston, a source said, and the Rockets could make a decision as early as Thursday.

The Warriors, conversely, will not hire a new head coach until next week at the earliest, a source said.