<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">With the representative for Pistons coach Larry Brown set to meet with team officials today to discuss Brown's future, here is a look at the situation: Q: Is Brown going to coach the Pistons next season? A: Anybody who tells you they know the answer to that is either lying or speculating. I talked to Brown and president Joe Dumars on Sunday. I have also talked to Brown's agent, Joe Glass. Here's what I can say for sure: Brown, as he told Dumars this past weekend, wants to come back and coach the Pistons. Even though his health issues are still not completely settled, it sounds like he is determined to coach regardless, even if he has to go through the same physical discomfort he went through last season. Glass and Dumars have planned to speak today. Dumars, who has maintained all along that he wants Brown back, will no doubt ask for certain assurances from Brown before welcoming him back. Q: What type of assurances? A: Obviously, Dumars will need to know with fair certainty that Brown will be able coach a full season. Nobody wants a repeat of last year, when Brown had to miss 17 games. Also, Brown will have to convince Dumars and, more specifically, owner Bill Davidson that this is truly the job he wants. No more flirting with other teams and other jobs. Q: Is it true that Davidson is angry at Brown? A: I haven't spoken to Davidson, but from all accounts, he was insulted by Brown's actions last season. Keep in mind, Dumars and Davidson are extremely proud men. Davidson and Dumars hired Brown to coach, not only a team that was on the brink of winning a title -- something Brown had never had to chance to do -- but also for one of the model organizations in professional sports. Whatever dirty laundry they have to deal with, they prefer to do it privately. Everything Brown did last year was front-page news. For the first time, Brown was able to coach a group of veteran, hard-working, non-complaining, selfless players who wanted nothing out of Brown except to show them how to win. Yet, Davidson and Dumars had to silently suffer the indignity of reports saying Brown would rather coach in New York or Denver, or had a job lined up in Cleveland. It doesn't matter that none of these jobs panned out. The fact that the scenarios played out publicly, and Brown was slow in killing the speculation, caused major damage. Q: So, was the damage irreparable? A: We will find out in the next few days, but I don't think so. I know Dumars believes the wounds will heal. I know he believes he can soothe whatever hurt feelings might exist between Brown and the players (though I suspect the majority of players want Brown back). And I believe Dumars has enough respect for Brown's coaching acumen to want to make that sacrifice for the organization. I also believe that the nearly $20 million Davidson still owes Brown will help assuage his feelings. Davidson will not easily swallow that big of a financial loss, especially when it will cost him another $5 million or $6 million a year to hire a new coach. But, again, a lot of it will be on Brown. He can fix this by just coming in, talking to Davidson and convincing him that this is where he wants to be. </div> Source
