Jul 21, 2005, 4:10 GMT
Los Angeles - It took less than 24 hours for the Detroit Pistons to replace Larry Brown.
As expected, Flip Saunders will be named the new Pistons head coach at a news conference Thursday, The Detroit News is reporting on its website.
Saunders will sign a four-year contract worth between four and five million dollars per season, a Pistons source told the newspaper.
Saunders, 50, was considered the first choice to replace Brown, who was bought out Tuesday, after guiding the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title and extending the San Antonio Spurs to seven games in this year's championship series.
Known as a player's coach, Saunders coached the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 411-326 record in 9 1/2 seasons before being dismissed midway through the 2004-05 campaign.
Despite Saunders' regular-season success, the Timberwolves have advanced past the first round of the playoffs only once.
Brown, meanwhile, is expected to meet with New York Knicks president Isiah Thomas this week to discuss the head coaching vacancy, according to the New York Daily News.
Thomas is prepared to offer Brown a five-year contract worth between 50 million and 60 million dollars, which would make the Hall of Fame coach the highest-paid coach in NBA history.
"Now that the Detroit situation is settled, obviously Isiah will be reaching out to Larry," Madison Square Garden spokesman Barry Watkins told the newspaper.
The glitch is whether Brown, 64, who has several health issues, including a bladder problem, wants to return to the sidelines right away or sit out the season.
"I don't see myself coaching again next year," Brown said on Tuesday night. "But you never know."
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caryMay 6th, 2009 - 01:07:42
Nate Robinson is so hot I love you Nate
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