On the Loose: Larry Brown

Any guesses where Larry will land? Chicago? Cleveland? The Low's house?

__________________
They are the archetype for dominance. They are the gatekeepers of the conference. They are the Detroit Pistons.

Chicago, seems to a good place for Larry. Team full of youngsters who he can coach up, but the brass may be hesitant because LB is a carpet bagger. Chicago gets either him or Carlisle.

I don't know if I ever told this story here, but a few years ago, I found myself paired up on the golf course with a guy on the board for the Chicago Bulls. It was during the contract negotiation with Scott Skiles after he made the playoffs the year before I believe. It was when the negotiations were getting combative and Skiles was threatening to walk.

Anyways, I just remember this guy said something like "he thinks he %%%%ing Phil Jackson, he hasn't done %%%%." At that point in time, I thought that the Bulls should sign him at all costs and it was eye opening to see how the guys on the inside were really irritated with him because of his over inflated ego.

The only reason that I bring this up is because if those guys didn't like negotiating with Skiles (when he was 1 step above a nobody), then I'm not sure they'll be able to go through the process of dealing with LB, who is pound for pound the most irritating employee on the planet.

__________________
"I’ll just say this: We’re not talking to teams about their second- or third-best players." Joe Dumars talking about his plan to get other teams' 4th best players.

I've always wondered how much of NBA negotiations are done with the prospective employee actually in the room and how much is done with only the agent. Most people aren't all that comfortable in salary negotiations and if you're paying an agent all that money, the temptation must be to turn him or her loose and get out of the way. Does the player or potential coach even know everything that is going on?

Hmmm... Larry Brown and Ben Gordon. Uh, no.

If LB shows up, BG will get traded before camp starts.

I'm sure all of the negotiations went through the agent, but the actual person still agrees to go along with the aggressive strategy.

Those agents must be pretty relentless dudes.

That is a good point about BG. Also, I don't think LB would be a big Tyrus Thomas fan... or vise versa.

There are some other players that would really fit his system though: Hinrich, Duhon, Gooden, Sefolosha.

Yeah, despite the failures of this year, there is still a good core there (Don't forget Deng.) and ample trade bait. Gordon and Thomas might get them a good big man or a strong two guard. Blend in a good coach and you never know.

I think Isiah Thomas and Larry Brown should open a school to train coaches. Some featured courswork could be:

"Don't Ever Quit: 10 Easy Steps to Getting that Buyout You Need" (taught by Brown)

"Pick 'n Roll: Pick at Everybody and then Roll to Your Next Gig (taught by Brown)

"Positive Persona: How to Convince Others You're Headed in the Right Direction Despite the Bottom Line (taught by Thomas)

"Foul! Hiding Your Indescretions by Saying the Right Things" (taught by Thomas)

The Davidson Connection: Establishing a Pleasant Relationship with the Boss (co-taught by Brown and Thomas)

LB needs to hold out and wait to see how Flip folds his cards the next 7-8 weeks.

If Flip fails, Joe and Mr D will need to just suck it up and bring back the only guy that can reel the egos back in and discipline these guys before father time takes over. After all Flip waited out in the Palace parking lot for 4 months waiting for the Pistons to can LB.

L.B. doesn't strike me as a "Turn him loose" type guy. I'm pretty sure that he'd insist on being very involved in any contract talks.

I really hope that the Bulls aren't interested in him and he ends up going to a team outside the Pistons' division at least. I think that Brown would do VERY well with that young Chicago team before wearing out his welcome and being forced to unceremoniously resign with a fat severance package.

The NBA expert on first and ten thinks the two most likely spots for him to end up are atlanta and denver if denver fails to win the series... he said AI and the rest of the players will ask for larry brown? That seemed like a stretch but if that talent there ever learned disipline and defense.... scary... unless brown would trade half the team away lol.