Report: Lakers Close to Signing Former Coach of the Year Mike Brown

When Mike Brown left the Cleveland Cavaliers after the 2009-10 season, he probably never thought he'd coach another star as big as LeBron James. Now, a little over a year later, he's about the be named head coach for arguably a bigger one.

According to ESPN, the 2009 Coach of the Year is close to signing a four-year, $18 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, ultimately landing the position over former Houston Rockets coach Rick Adelman.

Brown, who spent the 2010-11 season working as an analyst for ESPN, coached the Cavaliers from 2005-10. Despite a 272-138 record and a trip to the NBA Finals in 2007, he was dismissed by Cleveland after his team failed to make it past the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year.

Brown will replace Phil Jackson at the Lakers' helm, who announced his retirement after the Lakers were swept by the Mavericks in the second round. The legendary coach won five championships and more than 600 games in his 11 seasons with the franchise.  

A deal between Brown and the Lakers could be reached as early as Wednesday.