Lakers assistant Brian Shaw to visit Cavaliers; Shannon Brown to opt out of contract

The seemingly forever revolving world of the Lakers just keeps spinning. The latest news for a franchise that just won its 16th NBA championship is that assistant coach Brian Shaw will visit the Cleveland Cavaliers about the head coaching position vacancy and that guard Shannon Brown will opt out of his contract.

Shaw left Los Angeles on Monday morning for a flight to Cleveland to meet with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and General Manager Chris Grant, said two sources with knowledge of the situation, who were not authorized to speak.

Shaw was scheduled to have face-to-face discussions with Gilbert and Grant on Monday night and Tuesday about replacing Mike Brown as coach of the Cavaliers, the two sources said.

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said last Thursday that he did “grant permission” for Cleveland to speak with Shaw, who had a telephone interview with Cavaliers representatives last week.

Shaw, 43, a Lakers assistant coach the last five seasons, probably also would be a candidate to replace Lakers Coach Phil Jackson if he retires.

But right now, Shaw has his eyes set on trying to become coach of the Cavaliers, both sources said.

It has been reported that LeBron James has a strong interest in the triangle offense, something in which Shaw is well-versed because of his four years as a player who won three titles with the Lakers from 2000-2002. James is expected to become a free agent July 1, and there is no guarantee he’ll return to the Cavaliers next season, even if Shaw lands the job.

As for Brown, the 6-4 reserve guard will opt out of the final year of his two-year, $4.139-million contract by the June 30 deadline, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Sunday.

“My guess is he’s probably going to become a free agent,” Bartelstein said.

Brown signed the two-year, “biannual exception” last year with the Lakers. He made $1.990 million last season and was due to make $2.149 million next season.

The Lakers own his “early bird” rights and could sign him for up to five years and as high as the mid-level exception; the current mid-level exception pays $5.8 million in the first year.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

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