UPDATE 4:41 pm: Paul Silas is the leading candidate to replace Brown as the Bobcats coach, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo. Also in the mix: Patrick Ewing and Mike Woodson. Ken Berger of CBSSports says that Brown and Jordan came up with the list together and that other longshot names on it are current assistant coaches Tyrone Corbin (Jazz) and Mike Budenholzer (Spurs). Expect the decision to come in the next day or so (the Bobcats are off until next Monday).
3:57 pm: It has been a rough season for the 9-19 Bobcats — last night Larry Brown actually started Kwame Brown looking for some answers. The offense is terrible, the once-great defense is pedestrian.
In light of all that, Brown has agreed to step down as head coach, which happened Wednesday, the team announced.
Michael Jordan made this statement on the Bobcats’ Web site.
“I met with Coach Brown two weeks ago about the team’s performance and what we could do to improve it. We met again this morning after practice. The team has clearly not lived up to either of our expectations and we both agreed that a change was necessary,” Jordan said.
“This was a difficult decision for both of us, but one that needed to be made. I want to thank Larry for everything he has done for our team. He has played a key role in this organization’s development, including coaching us to our first playoff appearance last season. Larry will continue to be a valuable advisor to me regarding the team. The search for a successor will begin immediately.”
Brown’s entire staff has been let go as well. With that as the case the new coach – no immediate word on who that might be — has to be in place soon. The Bobcats don’t take the court again until next Monday, but expect a decision in the next 48 hours. Most likely, Jordan has someone in mind and has already made back-channel contact with the person.
Brown led the Bobcats to a 44-38 record and the franchise’s first ever playoff appearance last season, but the squad regressed this season (which happens when you let Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler go and basically don’t replace them). Brown was 88-104 (.458) in two-plus seasons with the Bobcats.