I'm Baaaaaaaack!!

Photo from The Daily Texan.

It's official: Larry Brown has resigned as VP of Basketball Operations in Philly. He apparently is on the prowl to coach, and I'm sure there will be several teams considering his services.

Let me get this out of the way first, to clarify any bias that may come up in the following post: I don't like Larry Brown. I think he carries himself with the arrogance of say, Phil Jackson, without any real reason to be. Yes, he has won games, and yes he has turned teams around, but he also has alienated players, gotten everyone good and pissed off, and abandoned his players. A lot of people are a fan of him as a coach, just know that I am not.

Still, he is widely respected in the league as a fine coach, and with some coaches already ousted and a few more surely on the way, here's a look at potential coaching positions for Larry, both good and bad:

Charlotte Bobcats (Sam Vincent)

Sam Vincent, though hired by Michael Jordan at the beginning of the 2007-2008 campaign, may already be on his way out. The Bobcats were seen as a dark horse to slip into the playoff race this season, and in a disappointing Eastern Conference there aren't many logical explanations of why they didn't. Jason Richardson is an elite scorer, Gerald Wallace is a highlight reel waiting to happen and a lock-down defender, Emeka Okafor is a defensive force and solid rebounder, and Raymond Felton is a lightning quick point guard with championship experience. They should be better than 32-50, Vincent knows it, and Jordan knows it. Still, MJ is known for his cronyism and the 'Cats have had to deal with injuries to Adam Morrison, Sean May, and Gerald Wallace, so Vincent may yet get another chance. But let's not forget that Larry Brown was widely rumored to be headed to Charlotte before this season, and he's a North Carolina man.

Probability:








Compatibility:








EDIT (4/26/08): Sam Vincent has been fired as the head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, and all fingers point to Brown as being the top candidate to replace him.

New York Knicks (No Coach)

No chance in hell. According to Joe Glass, Brown's agent: “It would be refreshing to have a situation going that he could enjoy, rather than the last one, to say the least.”

Probability:








Compatibility:









Chicago Bulls (No Coach)

I think this scenario might actually work out for both Brown and the Bulls. After the season they've had, the Bulls need a kick in the pants, and Larry Brown has shown time and time again he is capable of doing just that. I still feel that Scott Skiles got the boot a little bit too early, and an extension of Skiles's disciplinarian style could be possible through Brown. If the Bulls responded well to Skiles until he wore out his welcome, I could see something similar happening for Brown, which in the short term means post-season berths and success for Chicago. There is still talent in Chi Town, and with the right coach we'll see the Bulls in the thick of the Eastern Conference once again.

Probability:








Compatibility:









Golden State Warriors (Don Nelson)

This would be a terrible fit, and Chris Mullin isn't quite crazy enough to hire Larry Brown for this gig. It's not definite that Nellie will retire just yet, but if he does I fully expect current assistant Keith Smart to be given the reins.

Probability:








Compatibility:









Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City _____s (P.J. Carlesimo)

Carlesimo hasn't exactly been a Sonics organization favorite this season, and GM Sam Presti's lack of confidence in P.J. isn't exactly reason to be optimistic. Thus, as far as availablity, there is a solid chance the Seattle/OKC job will be open this off-season. But looking at compatibility, it just isn't a match. Brown has a track record of playing veterans, and this is a squad that needs to get burn for some younger players. Durant and Green are the current future of the team, and whoever the Sonics take in this summer's draft will be added to that core. Brown's coaching presence would only stunt the growth of this team, and while they may improve slightly in the short-term, I can't say it'd be good for the organization.

Probability:








Compatibility:









Miami Heat (Pat Riley)

Riley is apparently meeting with Heat owner Micky Arison to discuss his future with the team (not as ominous as it sounds), leaving Miami as another possible destination for Brown. If Riley stays on in an administrative capacity, I could see Brown and Riley butting heads on a lot of issues. Then you face the same youth issue that Seattle is facing: Miami will have a high pick in the draft, and we saw how much PT the #2 overall pick got during Brown's time in Detroit. This team will need whichever rookie is chosen to play a significant role in the upcoming season, and thus there could be a problem there. But come on, tell me a team with Larry Brown and Ricky Davis wouldn't be entertaining?

Probability:








Compatibility:









Memphis Grizzlies (Marc Iavaroni)

In the off-season, he was one of the most coveted coaching prospects. An assistant with the Suns widely considered to be a brilliant basketball mind, it seemed it was finally Iavaroni's time to shine. But what was supposed to be a resurgent Memphis team turned into another visit to the lottery, and this time without Pau Gasol. This is where it gets repetitive: see my comments on the Sonics and the Heat -- this team needs a youth movement.

Probability:








Compatibility:









Denver Nuggets (George Karl)

OK, hear me out. This is where Larry Brown makes the most sense. Things are obviously not working with George Karl, despite having some extremely talented players. People will be quick to point to the A.I.-Larry Brown conflicts, but let's not forget that Iverson called Larry Brown the "best coach in the world" after he left the Sixers. The team is full of veteran talent and doesn't play defense, so what are they waiting for? Larry Brown could turn this team into a contender, maybe make Carmelo play some defense, and put J.R. Smith in line. I think this is a no-brainer for the Nugs, provided they're willing to cough up the dough for a considerable contract.

Probability:








Compatibility:









Dallas Mavericks (Avery Johnson)

If the Mavs lose in the first round this year, Avery Johnson will officially be on the hot seat. Mark Cuban and Avery have gotten along well enough leading up to this season, but winning hides all flaws. Worried about being out-coached in the playoffs yet again, I wouldn't be surprised to see Cuban try to bring in Brown to coach up these Mavs. Still, I'm not sure that Larry Brown is what the Mavericks need right now. Their defense is struggling, but what really needs to be retooled is the isolation-heavy offense that is obsolete. I'm not sure that Brown would be able to do that, or even willing to do that, considering his unwillingness to put emphasis on the offense playbook in his days with the Spurs and Pistons. Larry Brown's teams have been primarily jump-shooting teams, which is exactly the mold the Mavs need to avoid falling into.

Probability:








Compatibility: