NBA notebook: 1 Brown in for Cavs; other one on way?

Owner Dan Gilbert stopped by the Cleveland Cavaliers' gift shop at Gund Arena yesterday morning to pick up a few last-minute welcoming gifts for Mike Brown, his newest employee.

One was a $20 Cavaliers clock.

"Contrary to popular opinion, we're going to give him more time than people think to be head coach of the Cavaliers," Gilbert said at a news conference introducing Brown.

Maybe. But it appears to be only a matter of time before a more prominent Brown (Larry) comes to Cleveland, too.

Tick, tock, indeed.

One of the NBA's most respected assistants at Indiana, Mike Brown officially became Cleveland's 17th coach — and star LeBron James' second as a pro — yesterday. Brown received a four-year $10 million contract and inherited a team that fractured late last season and missed the playoffs again.

While he wasn't the only Brown on people's minds, the personable 35-year-old flawlessly handled some awkward questions during his first public moments as Cleveland's sixth coach in six years.

With reports and rumors rampant that Detroit coach Larry Brown will soon join Cleveland as its president of basketball operations, Mike Brown was asked if he feared working under a man who could one day replace him.

"If Larry Brown does come here or doesn't come here, I'm not concerned about that," he said. "My job is to coach this basketball team, and that's what I'm focusing on."

Gilbert acknowledged for the first time that Cleveland's ownership group, after receiving permission from the Pistons, discussed a front-office position with Larry Brown, but that no offer has been made.

Several media outlets have reported that Brown, who has three years left on his contract with Detroit, has already agreed to come to Cleveland.

Jordan, Magic, Bird

will help pick team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Larry Brown are among the who's-who of basketball who agreed to help choose the men's U.S. Olympic team.

USA Basketball, the sport's national governing body, wants to avoid the trouble that came in selecting the 2004 Olympic team, which finished third at the Athens Games. That was the first U.S. team comprised of NBA players not to win a gold medal.

"I've got a lot of things to make up for after this summer, so I'd like to help," Brown, who coached the U.S. team at the 2004 Games, said yesterday before his Detroit Pistons played Miami in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Last week, USA Basketball announced Jerry West, Ernie Grunfeld and a handful of NBA team presidents and general managers would be part of the advisory group.

The advisory panel is scheduled to have its first meeting Tuesday.