HALL OF FAMER JOB HUNTING

Source: Bobcats interest Brown

Team hasn't settled Vincent's fate as coach

RICK BONNELL

rbonnell@charlotteobserver.com

MCT

04.04.08: Larry Brown talks to the media during the Final Four in the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas. (Rich Sugg/Kansas City Star/MCT)

A source close to Larry Brown says the Hall of Fame coach would be receptive to speaking with the Charlotte Bobcats, should their head-coaching job become available.

Currently that's not the case: The Bobcats are still reviewing the job performance of first-year coach Sam Vincent, whose team finished with a 32-50 record.

The source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, said Brown had not been contacted by the Bobcats. However, there were other signs the Bobcats are at least curious. Two sources said shortly after Brown resigned as executive vice president with the Philadelphia 76ers Thursday, a Bobcats employee contacted the 76ers for biographical information on Brown.

Brown, who could not be reached for comment Friday, has made it clear he wants back into coaching, after a 23-59 season with the New York Knicks (2005-06).

"I've got to figure out if I can get a coaching job,'' Brown told the Philadelphia Inquirer this month. "I want to get back so bad. I'm bored."

The Knicks fired Brown in part over conflicts with management and players. After settling his contract in New York, Brown went to work with the Sixers -- one of eight NBA teams he's coached -- essentially as a consultant.

The Knicks experience was one of the few failures for Brown, a New York native. Brown's teams reached the playoffs in 17 of his previous 22 seasons as an NBA head coach. He's one of five NBA coaches with at least 1,000 victories (fifth at 1,010). He coached the Detroit Pistons to the NBA title in 2004 and Kansas to the NCAA championship in 1988.

Brown was linked to the Stanford opening earlier this week, but subsequent reports say he took himself out the running. Brown lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

Bobcats managing partner Michael Jordan has had no comment on Vincent's status since acknowledging in an April interview with the Observer that Vincent had made rookie mistakes. Jordan said Vincent's status would be reviewed following the season.

Sources indicate Vincent did not fare particularly well when the players were asked about his performance in season-ending interviews with the front office.

If the Bobcats were to dismiss Vincent, Brown would serve as a dramatic contrast. Vincent's only previous NBA coaching experience was one season as a Dallas Mavericks assistant.

Also, Brown is a known quantity in the city and state. He played for North Carolina and coached the Carolina Cougars, an American Basketball Association team that played in Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh.

The then-Charlotte Hornets pursued Brown as its first coach in 1988 before hiring Dick Harter. Brown has family here from his first marriage and his mother lives in a Charlotte retirement home.