Updated: May 14, 2006, 7:53 PM ET
Report: Dolan considers buying out Brown's contract
ESPN.com news services


Larry Brown's dream job with the New York Knicks could end after only one season.

Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan, who's upset over Brown's record and the coach's public criticism of his players, is considering buying out the final four years of the coach's contract, the New York Daily News and New York Post reported in Sunday's editions.

The buyout is worth at least $40 million, the newspaper reported.

The Knicks declined to comment.

One published report indicated Knicks president Isiah Thomas was in line to replace Brown as head coach, the newspaper said, but the team would not confirm nor deny it.

Brown, who led the Knicks to a 23-59 season, has indicated that he will not resign. But the club could avoid having to pay another coach upward of $5 million a year if Thomas takes the job, the Daily News reported. One source told the newspaper that Thomas -- who coached the Pacers from 2000-2003 -- would be amenable to coaching the Knicks.

In April, one day after the Knicks completed one of the worst seasons in franchise history, Thomas said the Hall of Fame coach would return to coach the team for a second season. The underachieving roster was another story.

"I am loyal to winning and I am not loyal to any singular individual," Thomas said then. "I'm going to do what I need to do to make our team better. ...

"When you won 23 games, I think we'll make some changes," he said. "Coach and I haven't sat down and fully decided what changes we'll make, but we'll probably make some changes."

5/14/2006 10:50:30 PM

FIRE SIDNEY LOWE

5/14/2006 10:53:39 PM

it begins

5/14/2006 11:15:17 PM

THE NC STATE TRADITION WILL BRING HIM HERE!

5/14/2006 11:17:21 PM

Quote :

"One published report indicated Knicks president Isiah Thomas was in line to replace Brown as head coach, the newspaper said, but the team would not confirm nor deny it."

bwahahahaha that would be the best move ever

5/14/2006 11:18:11 PM

Larry Brown is so fucking overrated.

The Pistons are really struggling without him now.

5/14/2006 11:27:19 PM

Isiah Thomas is who needs to be fired


He was responsible for the Aguirre for Dantley trade, robbed a great player of the chance to win a title

Folded the CBA

Couldn't win it all with an extremely talented Pacers squad

and now, the Knicks are an absolute mess



But I'm Not Telling You Anything You Don't Already Know.

5/15/2006 3:22:01 AM

Isiah Thomas has been nothing but a festering floater in the toilet bowl of the NBA ever since he stopped being a player...

5/15/2006 10:25:32 AM

got his way out of 76ers to coach a team to a championship
gettin paid $40 million to STOP coaching a team


thats the life right there

5/15/2006 10:31:14 AM

wow, how much money have the Knicks/Isiah Thomas blown on stupid decisions over the past year?

5/15/2006 10:34:18 AM

Seriously this team needs new management its not funny anymore.

Marbury+Francis combine to make more than the entire Bobcats roster and even we won more games than the Knicks.

It's ridiculous to just kill the mecca of pro basketball.

5/15/2006 11:07:11 AM

they oughta punish L Brown by NOT buying out his contract

5/15/2006 12:20:49 PM

New York Knicks Total: $126,610,272
Allan Houston ................ $19,125,000 [retired 10/17]
Stephon Marbury .............. $16,453,125
Anfernee Hardaway ............ $15,750,000
Antonio Davis ................ $13,925,000
Maurice Taylor ............... $9,100,000
Shandon Anderson ............. $7,900,000 [released 11/10/04]
Eddy Curry ................... $7,390,000
Quentin Richardson ........... $6,940,000
Jerome Williams .............. $6,620,063 [released 8/15]
Jamal Crawford ............... $6,480,000
Malik Rose ................... $6,008,750
Jerome James ................. $5,000,000
Channing Frye ................ $2,162,880
Nate Robinson ................ $1,102,680
David Lee .................... $861,360
Trevor Ariza ................. $682,051
Qyntel Woods ................. $599,834 [min, s 12/6, counts $579,008]
Jackie Butler ................ $398,762 [minimum]
Matt Barnes .................. $131,593 [minimum, released 12/3]





this is old, but 4 people higher paid than the highest paid Sun, shawn marion

[Edited on May 15, 2006 at 12:26 PM. Reason : a]

5/15/2006 12:24:47 PM

You know what's funny about Isiah Thomas

People sarcastically make comments about the dumbest things he could possibly do, AND THEN HE REALLY DOES THEM

5/15/2006 12:43:01 PM

well players now seem to KNOW that if they play well in the playoffs, isiah will sign them for some obscene contract and they will never have to try again.

5/15/2006 12:54:47 PM

Cold Pizza just said if they do buyout his contract he COULD come back to N.C. to coach Charlotte

5/15/2006 1:31:30 PM

That roster is just laughable.

The funniest thing is the best two players on the team might be Channing Frye and Jackie Butler and they are the lowest paid players on the roster.

Dont forget that roster doesnt have Steve Francis megadeal on it either...

I mean why on earth would you trade FOR Quentin Richardson after he had such an awful playoffs last year...?

Why would you trade FOR Eddy Curry when everyone knows he doesn't rebound and his contract is un-insured due to heart attack risks?

Why would you sign Jerome James for $30 million when he can't even crack your rotation?

Why would you hire Larry Brown if you know he's going to resume his feud with Stephon Marbury?

Why would you trade FOR Malik Rose when Nazr Mohammad is the only legitimate center on your roster?

WHy would you trade Penny Hardaway when his contract is about to expire and you need cap room?

What the fuck are they doing?

5/15/2006 1:52:07 PM

bye larry

6/22/2006 3:33:07 PM

Head Coach Isiah Thomas

gimme a break

6/22/2006 5:50:33 PM

Wilbon is puttin his $$ on LBROWN to CHAR-TOWN

6/22/2006 5:51:37 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/vault

coupled with the recent moves made, makes ya go "hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm"

6/22/2006 9:26:28 PM