link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2110640 The Detroit Pistons and Larry Brown are parting ways, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com's Marc Stein. The Pistons and Brown, sources said, moved closer Monday to a buyout of Brown's contract, which has three years left at an estimated $18 million. Brown said as recently as Friday that he was "confident" about returning to the Pistons next season, having overcome season-long speculation about new jobs to lead Detroit to within one victory of back-to-back championships. Yet Brown, according to sources, could not guarantee that his health would hold up for a full season, which Pistons owner Bill Davidson had made a prerequisite for the 64-year-old's return. It was not immediately known if the buyout arrangement would be finalized Monday. It also remains to be seen whether Brown -- plagued by serious bladder complications throughout much of the season after hip surgery -- intends to take some time away from coaching or immediately pursue the New York Knicks' vacancy. New York president Isiah Thomas has held off on making Herb Williams his full-time head coach in the event that Brown becomes available. Ex-Minnesota coach Flip Saunders, who turned down a lucrative offer from Milwaukee while waiting for the months-long Brown saga to reach a climax, is the leading candidate to replace Brown in Detroit but has yet to interview with the Pistons.
well that kinda sucks for detriot. well i hope everythin turns out ok wit Brown. He was a good ciach and hopefully we will see him again
Ya this isnt good news for Detroit, i remember when larry brown was injured they had alot of trouble.
Flip Saunders isn't exactly the type of coach that Detroit needs. He doesn't suit the style of play that the Pistons play and I doubt anyone will be able to step in immediately and provide the same success that Brown had.
This is actually good news for the Pistons in my opinion. True Larry brown is a great coach, but it?s time for the organization to go in a different direction. First of all they need to find out what they have in Darko with the bad blood between him and Larry Brown and words they exchanged this season it was highly unlikely Darko would ever see minutes with Brown at the coaching spot. Saunders is a more than capable replacement he was a great coach for Minnesota, and if he is hired there is no question in my mind he will be able to coach this team at an equal or hire level as Larry Brown did. Talk about karma two seasons ago the Pistons part ways with there coach who lead them to two straight 50 wins seasons for a coach they felt was better suited for the job. Now they are in the market for a new coach again. Though I see this as a good move for the Pistons what is Larry thinking? Why would he leave Detroit for what is apparently going to be New York there situation there is no were near as good as the one he is leaving in Detroit. He is leaving the two time defending conference caps for a team way over the cap and not looking like they are going in any specific direction with the players they have right now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">This is actually good news for the Pistons in my opinion. True Larry brown is a great coach, but it?s time for the organization to go in a different direction. First of all they need to find out what they have in Darko with the bad blood between him and Larry Brown and words they exchanged this season it was highly unlikely Darko would ever see minutes with Brown at the coaching spot. Saunders is a more than capable replacement he was a great coach for Minnesota, and if he is hired there is no question in my mind he will be able to coach this team at an equal or hire level as Larry Brown did.</div> Even though Coach Brown and Detroit had their faults along the way I don't think after reaching the finals two years in a row is the right time to go in a different direction. Sure there was speculation on whether or not Brown would return to the Pistons to coach, but lately he has expressed interest to return and was confident that he would return in coaching so I don't know what happened. I don't think the Pistons will be as good as they were with Brown, without him.
Hahaha! That's exactly what Brown gets. He interviewed for the Cleveland job in the middle of the playoffs, and when that didn't go thru, Dumars fired him anyway. Can't have you're cake and eat it too.
well, looks like larry might be new york bound now. i have mixed feelings about this move. at first thought, i would say the pistons management are absolutely crazy. but then again, you have to consider his health issues. he has liver, or kidney problems (forgot which one), and he publically stated that he might not be able to finish the season. well, what ever happens to larry, i wish him best. and hopefully he'll get healthy and return to coaching.
As great as Larry is, having a coach at his age..even if he decided to coach this year. It was never going to be a long term fix. At least with Flip, he is a guy who I can say should be the Pistons coach for a while and he is still a good enough coach to get the Pistons in the finals. Larry's time was up and the Pistons needed someone they could coach them for years to come. Before people go about stating Pistons won't do this, do that...at least wait to see what the Pistons do to improve the team first. If Houston and or Finley is added then the Pistons are in good shape to make the finals again and get back the title even without Larry Brown.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes It will be interesting to see Flip actually have a GREAT TEAM instead of just 1 great player.</div> KG didn't take Minnesota there al by himself. Spree and Sam Cassell helped ihm a lot. The Pistons don't strike me to be the type of team for Flip because they don't have one star to build around. Chauncey and Rip are good but not stars like KG that Flip can go around. I just don't see them being better having Flip.
Well you wouldn't you are a Heat fan and you are looking for every wishful thinking possible to see the Pistons fail. Which obviously won't happen.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Well you wouldn't you are a Heat fan and you are looking for every wishful thinking possible to see the Pistons fail. Which obviously won't happen.</div> Um...not really. I would love for the Heat to win the East and you would feel the same way if the Heat had one that series. U need to calm down n stop being so defensive pal.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker31:</div><div class="quote_post">Um...not really. I would love for the Heat to win the East and you would feel the same way if the Heat had one that series. U need to calm down n stop being so defensive pal.</div> Where exactly am I being defensive? It is clear as day that your recent questions and topics in this forum is about Larry Brown and how the Pistons will be effected by him not being there. Then you go to say Flip Saunders will not do as well due to the fact he is more suited to a superstar player than a great overall team. How would you know? Saunders has never had a great TEAM before that works so well togeather. The Pistons are about sharing the ball and giving guys equal amount of shots. You don't think he would of liked that to happen in Minny? You really think he wanted KG to do everything by himself? C'mon... Pistons have different guys who can win you games yet that is somehow bad for Flip Saunders's coaching style? don't buy It.
well, its official <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Brown's never-changing story By David Aldridge, Inquirer Staff Writer July 19, 2005 Reports yesterday indicated that Larry Brown and the Detroit Pistons had officially begun the separation process, which will conclude with their reaching a financial settlement on the final three years and $18 million of his contract. If Brown is indeed shuffling off toward his next gig - Gotham? Cleveland? Bemidji State? - can we now shelve the histrionics? Brown is telling people that he plans to take a year off and see whether his physical problems relent. But in four months or so - as soon as some poor coach starts out 6-15 - you'll see sourceless stories about Brown's being excited about the idea of coaching again and how he thinks he has three or four good years left.</div> this really stinks.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Where exactly am I being defensive? It is clear as day that your recent questions and topics in this forum is about Larry Brown and how the Pistons will be effected by him not being there. Then you go to say Flip Saunders will not do as well due to the fact he is more suited to a superstar player than a great overall team. How would you know? Saunders has never had a great TEAM before that works so well togeather. The Pistons are about sharing the ball and giving guys equal amount of shots. You don't think he would of liked that to happen in Minny? You really think he wanted KG to do everything by himself? C'mon... Pistons have different guys who can win you games yet that is somehow bad for Flip Saunders's coaching style? don't buy It.</div> No I said that Flip doesn't have a distinct star to work with unlike in Minnesota.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker31:</div><div class="quote_post">No I said that Flip doesn't have a distinct star to work with unlike in Minnesota.</div> He would have about 3 or 4 stars, no superstar but why exactly is that a bad thing? You said having a well balenced team doesn't suit his coaching. Basically no superstar player. Why would you think that when he has never had the chance to have a team as good as the Pistons? He worked with what he had in Minny, what makes you think he his style wouldn't suit the Pistons?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting B-22:</div><div class="quote_post">Even though Coach Brown and Detroit had their faults along the way I don't think after reaching the finals two years in a row is the right time to go in a different direction. Sure there was speculation on whether or not Brown would return to the Pistons to coach, but lately he has expressed interest to return and was confident that he would return in coaching so I don't know what happened. I don't think the Pistons will be as good as they were with Brown, without him.</div> It was indeed time for Brown to go. He was interviewing for jobs during the playoffs and that's a "no-no". He had it coming to him. I actually would have been angry if Dumars brought him back, you don't do stuff like that and have the opportunity to coach again. So GOOD JOB DUMARS!!
