Sources: Cavaliers Decide on a Coach

Indiana Pacer assistant coach Mike Brown was offered Cleveland’s head coaching job, two sources within the NBA told Associated Press on Monday.

Brown, who has been Rick Carlisle’s top assistant the last two seasons and in the NBA for 13 years, was selected by owner Dan Gilbert and is expected to be introduced as Cleveland’s coach in the next few days, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“That’s going to happen,” said one of the sources, who has intimate knowledge of the situation.

The Indianapolis Star, Cleveland Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal also reported the choice of Brown.

The 35-year-old Brown, who did not immediately respond to a phone message, would be the second-youngest coach in the league after New Jersey’s Lawrence Frank. He would succeed Brendan Malone, who took over as interim coach March 21 after the firing of Paul Silas.

Brown is regarded as a defensive specialist, and that’s an area where Cleveland needs some help after giving up 96.5 points per game last season. Before joining Carlisle’s staff, Brown spent three seasons with San Antonio, winning one league title as an assistant with the Spurs. He coached San Antonio’s summer league teams.

Brown also has worked for the Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets. He interviewed for coaching positions with Toronto and Atlanta last summer.

Gilbert, who reportedly also interviewed Phil Jackson, Flip Saunders and Eric Musselman for the job, could not be reached for comment.

The Cavaliers also are awaiting the next move of Detroit Coach Larry Brown, whom they would like to hire as their president of basketball operations. Brown has health problems that could preclude him from coaching next season, so a move to the front office would allow him to stay in the game.