Knicks ready to offer Brown $50 to $60 million

By Frank Isola
New York Daily News

New York - Isiah Thomas' courtship of Larry Brown began Tuesday night, almost immediately after the coach and the Detroit Pistons reached a buy-out agreement that will allow Brown to coach the Knicks or any other team next season.

The Knicks' president is expected to meet with the Hall of Fame coach as soon as Thursday and is prepared to offer Brown a five-year contract worth between $50 million and $60 million, which would make him the highest-paid coach in NBA history. The Knicks are optimistic that they could have a deal in place by next week.

The only hold-up is whether Brown, who has several health issues, wants to return to the sidelines immediately or sit out anywhere from five months to a full season.

"I don't see myself coaching again next year," Brown said Tuesday night. "But you never know."

Brown continues to keep his plans close to the vest, suggesting that he would like to see interim coach Herb Williams remain on the job. Williams would be the Knicks' choice if Brown declines the position.

Should Brown agree to join the Knicks, there is a strong possibility that the team, with Brown's blessing of course, would ask Williams to remain on the bench, possibly as an assistant head coach.

The Knicks, who have been without a head coach since the day after their 33-49 season, confirmed Tuesday night that Thomas and Brown will meet.

"Now that the Detroit situation is settled, obviously Isiah will be reaching out to Larry," said Garden spokesman Barry Watkins.

Brown, regarded as one of the top coaches in league history and certainly its most well-traveled one, has always been Thomas' first choice. However, the Knicks have declined to talk publicly about their interest in Brown while he was still under contract with Detroit. They also didn't want to offer Detroit compensation if they hired Brown.

Brown, who was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Long Beach, L.I., was scheduled to earn $21 million over the next three seasons, but according to sources, he received $5 million to walk away and is free to take any job.

"I really haven't thought about coaching anywhere else," Brown said.

During the playoffs, Brown negotiated with the Cleveland Cavaliers about becoming their new president, which would seem to indicate that Brown did not feel he would be healthy enough to coach an entire season.

He missed 17 games last season after having hip surgery and later developing a bladder problem. Brown revealed that he told the Pistons last week that he was prepared to coach the team.

People close to Brown can't see him missing an entire season, which is something he has never done in his long and illustrious career. But Brown, who has coached eight pro and two college teams, admitted that there are several factors that will influence his decision. Brown's wife, Shelly, has encouraged him to take the year off and rest.

"Now I have a young family, so a lot of things are a little different," he said. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to look at any alternatives this year."

The Knicks' best chance to hire Brown is now because they are the only team without a head coach for next season. Plus, the financial package they're offering may be too lucrative for Brown to turn down.

If Brown, 64, isn't ready to coach by the start of training camp in October, the Knicks' chances of hiring him would diminish. One theory is that if Brown has second thoughts about joining the Knicks, he would wait until December or January to return and join a team that has a more attractive roster than the one Thomas is putting together in New York.

Stephon Marbury, the Knicks' best player, had a rocky relationship with Brown during last year's Olympics. Marbury, who complained about Brown's offense being too restrictive, is a favorite of Thomas, even though rumors surfaced over the past month that the Knicks were actively trying to trade their point guard. Thomas vehemently denied the talk.

It is no secret, however, that Brown would want a say in personnel decisions. That's one reason why he was interested in joining Cleveland. Brown and Thomas claim to have a close professional relationship, but the two also have strong opinions over how a team should be run and there is no guarantee that they could peacefully coexist. They already have a difference of opinion on Marbury.

There is no denying that Brown could make the Knicks better. In Detroit, he took a veteran team to two straight Finals, winning it all in 2004. But his two-year run is ending with an ugly divorce. The Pistons claim that Brown orchestrated his messy exit and Brown contends that the Pistons fired him.

"I've never had anyone say that I failed," Brown said of his Detroit experience. "Since day one all I've said was I wanted to coach Detroit. I told them last Thursday that I was prepared to coach. For anybody to say I don't want to coach Detroit . . . that's not real accurate."

That's So New York