Clippers Talking to Hubie Brown

The Clippers are involved in contract talks with Hubie Brown that could yield a coach as soon as today and a multimillion-dollar contract for a television commentator who has not been on the sidelines since 1986.

Brown did not return phone calls to his Atlanta home the last two days, but one team source said the sides are talking about a four-year deal worth about $1 million annually. It would take that kind of money, which would put him among the highest-paid coaches in the NBA, to lure Brown out of retirement and away from TNT, where he would have security when the network completes its impending new pact with the NBA.

He is no relation to Larry Brown, the Clipper coach for 1 1/2 seasons before resigning in May. Since that time, the search process has yielded much disappointment and frustration as the Clippers’ first choice, Lenny Wilkens, unexpectedly signed with Atlanta and others followed by saying they were not interested.

Brown, Del Harris, Bob Weiss, Gene Littles and Bill Musselman are believed to be the only candidates to reach the interview stage. Littles withdrew from consideration almost immediately and Musselman is not regarded as a possibility. Tries for big names such as Rick Pitino and Pat Riley got negative responses, either from the team or the individual.

Their first few choices either unavailable or uninterested, the Clippers, keeping Harris and Weiss as safety valves, turned their attention to Brown within the past week.

Brown, also a finalist along with John MacLeod for the Clipper job that went to Gene Shue in 1987, compiled a 341-410 record in stints with New York and Atlanta.