Cavaliers End Brown Talk

Larry Brown apparently isn’t going to Cleveland.

The Detroit Piston coach had talked with Cavalier owner Dan Gilbert about becoming Cleveland’s president of basketball operations next season, but Gilbert indicated that Brown is no longer in his immediate plans while introducing Danny Ferry as his general manager Monday.

“This organization right now can’t wait to move forward,” Gilbert said. “As of now, Larry Brown is not coming to this organization. I don’t know where he’ll end up or what he’ll do. He’s a great guy, and we’re all in awe of him. But I feel real good about our team.”

Brown won’t know his next move until he deals with a medical condition. He has an appointment Wednesday at the Mayo Clinic.

“Nothing has changed with me,” Brown said by telephone before the Ferry news conference. “The Cleveland people are close to me; they know what I want to do. I don’t even want to speculate on my other options if I can’t coach. I’ve told Cleveland I would help them in any way I can if I don’t coach.”

Meanwhile, Ferry, 38, the former San Antonio Spur president of basketball operations, will replace fired GM Jim Paxson and take over a team with $25 million in salary cap space.

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Rex Chapman, the Phoenix Suns’ former director of basketball operations, was hired by the Minnesota Timberwolves as a consultant for tonight’s draft. Chapman resigned from the Suns on June 15.

Chapman has been mentioned as a possible replacement for General Manager Jim Stack, who is negotiating a contract extension.

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Milwaukee Buck point guard T.J. Ford, sidelined for more than a year because of a bruised spinal cord, received medical clearance to take part in full-contact action. Ford underwent cervical spine surgery in May 2004, three months after the then-rookie was injured against Minnesota. ... The New Jersey Nets declined an option on forward Clifford Robinson, 38, making him a free agent.