Cleveland Cavs Hire Mike Brown As Head Coach For The Third Time

 

Just three days after firing him for the second time, the Cleveland Cavs have hired Mike Brown as their head coach.

On Monday, beleaguered Cavs owner Dan Gilbert released Brown as Cavs coach, saying "We believe we need to head in a different direction. We wish Mike and his family nothing but the best."

Less than 72 hours later, Gilbert had a major change of heart. “I am more than excited about Mike Brown’s return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mike has done nothing but win in this league since he was a first-year assistant many years ago, and he can help us build the kind of franchise that competes at a championship level for many years to come.” Brown will be introduced at a press conference at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

"I've made two incorrect decisions in my life, and both of those were firing Mike Brown. By hiring Mike Brown, I have the ability to make those bad decisions go away," Gilbert added.

Although the Cavs are believed to have done their due diligence in a far-reaching coaching search, which included screening George Karl and Tom Izzo, it is believed that Brown is the only person they interviewed - on Wednesday in Detroit. The team moved quickly to prevent other interested teams from getting involved.

Brown, fired as a head coach three times in the last four years, will make an incredible $16.5M salary for the 2014-15 season. Ironically, Brown signed a six-year guaranteed contract as Cavs coach in 2009 that he's also still being paid for. In 2011, Brown signed a four-year contract to coach the Los Angeles Lakers, and just last April, Brown signed another five-year contract with the Cavs.

Breaking down Brown's 2014-15 salary

2009 guaranteed contract from the Cavs: $3.5M

2011 guaranteed contract from the Lakers: $4.5M

2013 guaranteed contract from the Cavs: $5M

2014 guaranteed contract, also from the Cavs: $3.5M

Total: $16.5M

Brown agreed to a three year, $10.5M contract to return as Cleveland's coach, which is significantly less than the five-year, $20M contract he signed last year with the Cavs.

"I would feel bad taking any more than $3.5M a year, given the fact that I'm still getting paid for three previous coaching contracts that teams broke to fire me. Kyrie is only making $7.5M next season, and there's really no good reason for me to make anything more than $9M more than him, in my opinion. My 2009 contract is over after next season though, so maybe the team should consider giving me a raise at that time," Brown said to a reporter outside the Cleveland airport this afternoon.

Shortly after Brown’s reunion with the Cavs was leaked to the media, Gilbert went on Twitter to defend his decision. He pointed out that Brown, Stan Van Gundy and Phil Jackson are the only coaches with more than five years of experience to only miss the playoffs once or less during their careers. Gilbert also noted that at 44, Brown “is not even near his peak as an NBA coach.”

“I’m happy for him, very happy for him,” LeBron James said prior to the Miami Heat’s practice on Thursday. “I think he’s a really good coach. Very defensive-minded coach. It will be good for those young guys that they have.”

Former Cavs coach Mike Brown had trouble getting the Cavs' backcourt of Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters to complement each other on either end, and that will likely be the main challenge facing new coach Mike Brown. "I'm up for this challenge, and look forward to coaching this young group," Brown said.

Brown's agent released an official statement to WKYC TV Cleveland about his return to Cleveland. “I am thrilled to return to Cleveland to coach the Cavaliers. The commitment ownership and management have shown in their efforts to build a successful team and organization is deep, and I am excited to lead this team forward. I have no doubt that the Cavs are committed to having me coach this team for many years to come."

***If you are THAT gullible, we'll help you out: THIS IS SATIRE - a joke, not a real story... but it could be!***

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