Three years ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers fired Mike Brown after back-to-back 60-win seasons in one of the series of desperate moves they made to convince LeBron James not to leave the Cavaliers.
Now they may be bringing Brown back.
Thursday the Cavaliers fired Byron Scott after three seasons where the talent and defense never seemed to improve, and they could bring Mike Brown back to fill that vacancy, reports Brian Windhorst at ESPN.With Scott out, there is mutual interest between Brown and the Cavaliers for a possible reunion, according to multiple league sources.
Much of it may depend on Brown, who has told those close to him that he is not sure he’s ready to return to coaching after being let go by the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this season. Brown, who has two years and more than $8 million left on his deal with the Lakers, has said he may take time off to be with his family.
Brown was fired five games into this season by the Lakers when management there decided he was not the guy who could coach their newly assembled superstar roster (that despite injuries that meant he never had his full roster in the preseason or regular season games they played).
Brown is just one of a series of candidates the team will consider, but GM Chris Grant told ESPN they want a coach with experience. There has been some buzz they may at least test the waters with Phil Jackson (although he would want front office power and isn’t looking to coach long term). Seeking an experienced coach appears to rule out top assistants such as Brian Shaw, even though having one of those young coaches grow with the young players has worked in places such as Oklahoma City with Scott Brooks.
Of the open coaching jobs Cleveland is one of the more appealing because they already have a franchise anchor star in Kyrie Irving plus they have a lot of cap space the next couple years (and some draft picks to add to the roster).
Brown and family are already rumored to be moving back to the Cleveland area, his eldest son has signed to play at Butler. And Brown could go back there with a job waiting for him.