Warning for John Paxson & Chicago Bulls: Don’t Hire Larry Brown As Coach

I have a message for Chicago GM John Paxson: don’t do it. Don’t hire Larry Brown to coach your team. 

I know. Ignoring the nomad-coach can be difficult. He’s a member of the James Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He has a proven track record with young players. And his play-the-right-way mantra still sounds good.

I also know times are tough John, but you must avoid Brown at all costs. Don’t answer his phone calls. Delete all emails. Answer the media’s questions about him with an unemotional no comment (poker faces work best, think of your time in Vegas with a former Hall-of-Fame teammate).

And don’t get caught in Brown’s twisted back channel game. Avoid the wink-wink, nudge-nudge meet my agent’s agent in the parking lot of the United Center to talk nonsense.

If you hire Brown, he’ll have one eye on your playing rotation and the other on his next job. For example, in 2004-05, Piston players spent the playoffs answering reporters’ questions about Brown leaving for New York.

Remember, Brown, himself, seemed more concerned with his future then Detroit’s season. Oh yeah, the Pistons, in spite of the on-going rumors, lost in seven games against the Spurs in the NBA Finals. 

Brown eventually did join New York, which shows he makes poor decisions. I’m not referring to his record with the Knicks, but his decision to leave a contender like Detroit for the madness of New York.

Who leaves Joe Dumars and Bill Davidson for Isiah Thomas and James Dolan? Who leaves Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince for Stephon Marbury?

Sure, a brinks truck was waiting for him at Madison Square Garden, but he only saw a fraction of his fifty million dollar contract. If a coach can’t exercise common sense in his own career, then he can’t be trusted on your sideline.

Rumor has it former bench-boss Scott Skiles was tough on your players. Well, he’ll look like Mother Teresa next to Brown. Just ask Ben Wallace. The former Piston will really start underachieving if you hire Brown.

Brown was once a great coach. By all accounts, away from the game, he’s a decent, family-focused person. But John, he’s not right for Chicago. Look elsewhere for your next coach.

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