Lakers Hire Mike Brown As Head Coach

Mike Brown is the new coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Brown and the Lakers agreed in principle Wednesday to a four-year, $18.25 million deal. 

He becomes the Lakers 22nd coach in franchise history.

The contract is a three-year deal with a team option for a fourth year. If the Lakers don't pick up the option, Brown is guaranteed to receive $2.5 million.

An ESPN television analyst and the 2008-09 NBA coach of the year, he emerged as the leading candidate for the vacancy created when Phil Jackson retired after a strong face-to-face interview Saturday with Lakers brass including executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss.

The 41-year old was fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers almost a year ago to the day. Now, the 41-year-old Brown, the winningest coach in Cavaliers history, is leading one of the most prestigious and successful franchise in modern basketball history.

In 5 seasons, Brown led the Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals and 2 trips to the Eastern Conference finals.  He was 272-138 during his Cleveland tenure.

This a horrible hire in my opinion.  When I think Lakers coach, I think strong personality and superstar persona. Phil Jackson, Pat Riley and even Magic Johnson.

Del Harris, Mike Dunleavy and Randy Pfund.  Those are the types of coaches that remind me of Mike Brown.  He might as well be named Mike Doe.  It's essentially a no-name with no "wow" factor.

Brown became the head Coach of the Cavaliers when he was 35-years old.  At the time, he was the youngest coach in the league. He was in way over his head.  He had no idea how to handle big egos. Players didn’t seem to like him and his relationship with LeBron wasn’t very good in the end.

The Lakers need some leadership at the top.  They have no room under the salary cap to sign any big names, they have bad contracts and aging players and no a no-name coach.

Couldn't one of the NBA's best franchises to better than Mike Brown?