Last night’s loss to the Celtics was a major disappointment for the Cavs, the kind of game that can change the course of the franchise as LeBron James
considers his options. They have decisions to make, especially as they pertain to how they can keep their best player in town.
If a report by Sports Illustrated‘s Chris Mannix is to believed,they’ve already decided what to do with head coach Mike Brown:
Two league sources say the Cavaliers will announce thatMike Brown
It should be noted that this is not official — Brian Windhorst says that decision has not been made as of this moment. However, the Cavs have called a press conference for this afternoon with owner Dan Gilbert and GM Danny Ferry but without a mention of Brown, so indications are that Brown has indeed been let go.
By the standard metrics, Brown has been a success in Cleveland: one Finals appearance, consecutive seasons with the league’s best record, and a Coach of the Year trophy are rare achievements for any coach. But the team has not met expectations in each of the last two seasons, and this year was pressure-filled with LeBron set to hit the open market over the summer. Brown should be able to get another job soon, but he should also be able to easily understand why he was let go.
In most years, the Cavs’ job would be a highly coveted position if only because of the presence of James. But with him now possibly leaving the team this summer, will any big-name coaches want to take the job until they’re assured that LeBron will be back? Or will management simply tell LeBron that he can pick any coach he wants?
