Larry Brown to Bobcats a Done Deal

The AP is reporting that the Charlotte Bobcats will announce the hiring of Larry Brown as their new head coach in a press conference tomorrow, according to a source close to the situation. Brown will replace Sam Vincent, who was fired last weekend after only one year with the club. The Bobcats' job will be Brown's ninth NBA team to run, and will likely prove to be a significant challenge. Of course, Brown knows something about challenges, as his last head coaching position was with the New York Knicks in 2006.

Brown said last week after resigning from the 76ers organization that he had to get back into coaching because he was "bored." He certainly won't be bored now, with a major reclamation project to accomplish with a team that has struggled since it's inception in 2004. Brown has often been criticized for his inability to develop young talent, and now he takes over a team that features seven players with 3 years or less NBA experience. While the Bobcats have pursued more veteran players recently at the request of minority owner Michael Jordan (Jason Richardson), the Bobcats are still a very young squad. If Brown is going to find success in Charlotte, he's going to have to either develop the young assets this team possesses, or blow the whole thing up and start over. Either way, one of the game's most prolific coaches is back behind the clipboard.