PaullyInNYC

Will the NY Knicks buy out the rest of Larry Browns contract?

PaullyInNYC

May 20, 2006 -- The Knicks yesterday reopened lines of communication between the front office and coach, with team president Isiah Thomas talking by telephone with exiled Larry Brown and his agent Joe Glass, The Post has learned. It was the first time Brown and Thomas spoke in two weeks. Thomas formally invited Brown and his assistants to Monday's pre-draft workouts. Prior to yesterday, Brown said he learned about Monday's workouts by reading a story in The Post. A league source said the schedule was mailed to Brown's office, but the coach said he didn't see it until yesterday.
It remained unclear whether Brown's future beyond Monday was discussed. Thomas has maintained that all decisions rest squarely on the shoulders of owner James Dolan. Thomas, who could assume the team's coaching duties, told Brown it will be business as usual, and instructed him to run the drills in what could stand as the most ridiculous day in Knicks history.
Dolan reportedly plans to buy out Brown's contract. The Knicks, however, denied a report that said Dolan hoped to meet with Brown in the upcoming 7-10 days. That sure narrowed it down.
A source said Dolan still hadn't decided when he'll meet with Brown, though a good bet is next week. Even the unpredictable Dolan must realize that the longer the noose hangs over Brown's head, the worse the Knicks look.
Some believe that Dolan is waiting for Tuesday, in a calculated effort to upstage the draft lottery and save the Knicks from facing added humiliation. The Bulls own the Knicks' lottery pick as part of the trade for Eddy Curry, meaning they could win the top overall pick and have a chance to draft Brown favorite Tyrus Thomas or LaMarcus Aldridge.
The Knicks, meanwhile, revealed the list of participants for Monday's workout. Ironically, the list included North Carolina senior forward David Noel. Brown and assistants Phil Ford and Dave Hanners both are Tar Heels alumni, and both help the program recruit players such as Noel.
Leonardo Santos of Brazil, Washington's Bobby Jones and Seton Hall's Kelly Whitney also will be part of the workout. Tuesday, Rutgers' Quincy Douby - whose agent, Keith Glass, is Glass' son - and Michigan State's Maurice Agers also will be on hand.
"It's all crazy," said a source close to Brown.
Brown's friends have been gloating over the fact that the Pistons appeared ready to crash and burn in their second-round series vs. Cleveland last night. If it happens, Brown's image could receive a boost, though probably not in Dolan's eyes.
A longtime confidant who spoke to Brown's family this week believes Brown will coach next season, though a source in Golden State said Mike Montgomery isn't going anywhere and that Brown's relationship with owner Chris Cohan will not be a factor. Should Dolan fire Brown, it would help the Knicks, as any future contract Brown signs would offset the $40 million Dolan would pay him.

SwimCoach

Isiah Thomas has made several attempts to contact Larry Brown in recent days, a source told the Daily News, although the purpose of those phone calls was unrelated to Brown's status as Knicks' head coach.

It is also unclear if Thomas spoke directly to Brown or whether he only was able to leave messages for Brown to provide him with a schedule for the draft workouts that the Knicks will begin holding Monday at the team's training facility in Greenburgh.

Assuming Brown reports to work Monday, it will mark the first time that he and Thomas have met face-to-face since reports surfaced that Garden chairman James Dolan is considering buying out Brown's contract and replacing him on the bench with Thomas.

It is not known if Dolan will attend the workouts, but Dolan is expected to meet with Brown within the next week. The Knicks refuse to comment on Brown's status, although it is clear that the decision on Brown's future will be made by Dolan. Earlier in the week, Thomas contacted Brown's agent, Joe Glass, who said he was informed by Thomas that the reports of Brown's imminent ouster were untrue.

However, sources maintain that Brown will be removed as head coach prior to the free-agent recruiting period, which begins July 1.

Glass has said that Brown will continue to perform his duties as coach as long as he is under contract. Brown will be eager to work on Monday because one of the prospects the Knicks will see is forward David Noel from Brown's beloved alma mater, North Carolina.

PaullyInNYC

NEW YORK It's been rumored for weeks, and today, the Knicks made it official: Larry Brown was fired as head coach after just one season. Team President Isiah Thomas will assume coaching duties as well.

Brown's one and only season with the Knicks was a disaster, with a 23-59 record. That was the second-worst in the league. The 59 losses also matched the most in franchise history.

Weeks ago, reports surfaced that the Knicks wanted to work on a buyout. Brown had four years and $40 million remaining on his contract.

At the time, Brown and his agent were adamant: Brown would not leave willingly; he would have to be fired. Last month, Brown called himself a "dead man walking" because of the uncertainty.

Knicks management had been mum, but in a statement released today, Thomas said, "Larry Brown is a great coach, but for various reasons, bringing him to the Knicks did not turn out the way we had hoped, and we wish him the best in the future."

Owner James Dolan said, "Larry has had a long and storied career. We hired him last summer with the expectation that he would be with the Knicks for a long time. Sometimes decisions work and sometimes they don't."

Thomas also added, "I strongly believe we are on the right track to take major steps in our rebuilding process to achieve our goal of being one of the premier teams in the NBA."

Thomas previously coached the Indiana Pacers, and in three seasons, he compiled a 131-115 record. He joined the Knicks as president and general manager in December 2003. He was coach of the Indiana Pacers for three seasons through 2002-03, compiling a 131-115 record.

TheMan

Even with Larry Brown gone and I. Thomas as the new coach I still think the New York Knicks will stink. The Nets will still win the division even with the talented roster the ny knicks have. So I guess in a year from today Thomas will get the hook. Im wondering who will want to coach the helpless Knicks in the future ??

TheMan

I know my last statement was quit bold but I will stick with it.

On the other hand the NY Knicks selected Renaldo Balkman as the 20th overall pick. Im definitly not so sure of this pick. He averaged under 10 points per game but is an exceptional athlete. At the 29th pick in the first round the New York Knicks selected Mardy Collins a 6-6 point guard/ shooting guard. This was another surprising pick because he is an under average athlete and can not shoot the ball. What the hell were these two picks, was I. Thomas dreaming when he picked these two. Im still shocked with the 20th and 29th picks ???

CityGuy

Isiah's 2 picks start off Year 1

BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

The only certainty for the Knicks in tonight's NBA draft is that Isiah Thomas won't be calling Larry Brown for advice.
As James Dolan said on Monday, this is now Thomas' ship to sail or sink. Wasn't that always the case? The post-Brown Knicks won't have anyone to blame but themselves for draft picks, trades or free-agent signings gone awry. That's both the advantage and disadvantage of Thomas being both the team president and coach.

"I'll continue to try to make changes and try to improve the team because at the end of the day, I'm going to do the best for the New York Knicks organization," Thomas said. "My goal is pretty clear. There's not a player on this roster right now that doesn't understand or believe that if he's not performing, I have no problem getting rid of him."

The Knicks would be making the No.2 pick tonight had they not traded an unprotected first-round pick to Chicago in the Eddy Curry deal. Instead, Thomas will be making the 20th and 29th selections from previous trades he made with the Raptors and Spurs, respectively.

Because there is no clear-cut top selection and the draft is wide open, the Knicks could end up selecting a player at 20 that they had penciled in as a top 15 selection. Two players who have impressed the Knicks are Shawne Williams, an athletic 6-9 small forward who spent one season at Memphis, and Villanova point guard Kyle Lowry, who is intriguing because of his defensive mind-set. There are reports that the Knicks have even met with Italy's Andrea Bargnani, a 6-11 forward who could be the first player taken.

Although Thomas selected two players - Channing Frye and David Lee - in the first round last year, he is not adverse to adding two more rookies to the roster.

"This is still a rebuilding situation and my goal is still to continue the rebuilding," said Thomas, who, according to Dolan, has one year to turn around the team. "I'm not going to be shortsighted, even though there is pressure on me to do big things here. I won't shortchange the Knicks organization and do something hasty."

Thomas made a draft-day trade last year, acquiring Quentin Richardson and Nate Robinson's draft rights from the Phoenix Suns for Kurt Thomas. Richardson, who could be traded despite a bad back, is a shooter in a league that lacks such skilled players. He also showed a willingness to play defense and nearly got into a locker-room fight with Stephon Marbury.

That made Richardson a favorite of Brown and immediately placed him on the endangered list. Just ask Kurt Thomas, Tim Thomas, Keith Van Horn and Dikembe Mutombo what happens when you get on Marbury's bad side. Or just ask Brown.

Isiah Thomas wants to play a more up-tempo style next season, similar to the way Phoenix plays. The Knicks would likely want to trade point guard Steve Francis, but his value is way down. Robinson has value, but the Knicks would like to see the 5-9 shooting guard and Marbury play in the backcourt together. Defensively that combination would struggle but both would be difficult to guard.

TheMan

So in the article above it looked like they were aiming at two quality players yet they choose two nobodys. Ironic .... I think its clear stupidity.. what were they thinking when drafting Renaldo and Mardy. They had higher expectations and they went for under quality players???

PaullyInNYC

Im more surprised at last years rookies mocking former coach Larry Brown saying that he didnt keep up the team chemistry. Its ironic that the NY knicks youngsters would say this. I dont understand why the New York Knicks cant grow up and stop acting stupid and immature. Let the past be the past and move on, but no they have to show how they have no class whatsoever. Grow up! This is a reason I still dont see the Knicks getting into the playoffs....when you can tell how the character of a team is classless then im not so sure how they will get deep into the playoffs.

bigapple

Isiah Thomas is exploring the possibility of reacquiring Trevor Ariza, a player Larry Brown referred to as 'delusional.'

An NBA source said Isiah Thomas had a conversation recently with Denver about Kenyon Martin but is completely turned off because the Nuggets only want expiring contracts, unwilling to take back a big contract such as Steve Francis. As much as Thomas might like to have Atlanta free-agent forward Al Harrington, who once was coached by Thomas with Indiana, Harrington is too expensive for the New York Knicks, who have only the $5.1-million midlevel exception and the semiannual $1.75-million exception.

So which free agent or trade will the new york knicks make? Anyone have ideas or suggestions?