Cavs release Brown as coach

By BRIAN WINDHORST

The Cleveland Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND

The Cavaliers have 36 days until July 1. It just may be the most important 36 non-game days in franchise history.

After firing coach Mike Brown late Sunday, the team appears to have left itself at a crossroads just ahead of July 1, when LeBron James will likely choose to become an unrestricted free agent.

Some would say the instability of a coaching search in this crucial time frame puts the team in a danger zone when it comes to re-signing James. That is a realistic point of view.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, however, seems to see it as an opportunity. As is Gilbert’s style, that is an optimistic and aggressive point of view.

“The expectations of this organization are very high,” Gilbert said in a statement Monday, eschewing the normal routine of holding a press conference when making a coaching change.

“Although change always carries an element of risk, there are times when that risk must be taken in an attempt to break through to new, higher levels of accomplishment. This is one of those times.”

There is one thing not up for debate, something that Gilbert is apparently counting on. No matter what happens, James will be a Cav until July and that gives Gilbert and general manager Danny Ferry 36 valuable days of James’ attention.

Just over five weeks, Gilbert might say, of taking risks in a final pitch to convince James to re-sign.

That means attempting to make a big splash with a coaching hire. Gilbert swung for the fences in 2005 when he last looked for a coach, interviewing Phil Jackson and courting Larry Brown through back channels while Brown was head coach of the Pistons.

That was when his win at all costs reputation wasn’t established, James was just a one-time All-Star, the Cavs hadn’t made the playoffs in eight years and had no general manager. The belief is that now Gilbert’s sell job could be easier.

Though the uncertainty surrounding James would seemingly create pause in firing the most successful coach in team history, Gilbert doesn’t seem to feel that way. He apparently sees the team, coming off two 60-win seasons and with still a good chance to re-sign the two-time Most Valuable Player, as a place coaches want to come.

Which is why he’s ready to move to another coach.

“After a long and deep analysis of all of the factors that led to the disappointing early ends to our playoff runs over the past two seasons, we concluded that it was time for the Cavaliers to move in a different direction,” Gilbert said.

It is expected he will chase the big names, likely willing to spend top dollar in a market when rivals are tightening their budgets.

Yet the coaching aspect might only be a part of the activity.

Gilbert hinted two weeks ago that he may be willing to trade or buy into the draft, which will take place eight days before the start of free agency on June 24. Currently, the Cavs don’t have a draft pick. However, as teams look to control cap space and save money, some first-round picks are expected to be available.

The Cavs also may be active in the trade market, which will begin in earnest next month. The Cavs do have a couple of tradeable assets, none more so than the contract of Delonte West. Worth $4.6 million, West is only guaranteed $500,000 if he’s released by August. The potential savings for other teams could be the base of a trade that could upgrade the roster ahead of the start of free agency.