8-hour meet has Brown no closer to Knick green

BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Larry Brown arrives at NBA's midtown offices but leaves none the richer yesterday.
James Dolan
Larry Brown has waited three months to collect a paycheck from the Knicks, and now he'll have to wait even longer.

After eight hours of testimony yesterday in Brown's arbitration case, NBA commissioner David Stern announced that Brown's hearing will continue on Tuesday in Manhattan, which could prevent Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas from attending the team's first practice next week. The Knicks are scheduled to travel Monday afternoon to Charleston, S.C., for their week-long training camp.

Asked if Thomas would be required to attend Tuesday's hearing, Stern would only say, "That's up to the parties" involved.

The Knicks are trying to void the final four years of Brown's contract, worth approximately $40 million. Brown will argue that he is owed $40 million, plus another $12 million in legal fees and damages. Brown had a clause in his contract that designated Stern to serve as the arbitrator in the event of a dispute with the Knicks. A ruling is not expected for several weeks.

Brown and Garden chairman James Dolan declined to comment after leaving Stern's midtown office last night.

"You know I can't talk to you guys," Dolan said before climbing into his limousine.

Brown jad departed 20 minutes earlier, at approximately 7 p.m., surrounded by a team of high-powered attorneys and his wife, Shelly. As Brown walked past 11 boxes of legal files, his longtime agent, Joe Glass, yelled at reporters to "back off!"

Brown arrived at the NBA's Fifth Ave. offices at 9:30 a.m., 30 minutes before Dolan. Thomas was at the NBA office for three hours before leaving. Thomas, Garden president Steve Mills and Garden VP of communications Barry Watkins all were called to testify, as was former VP of media relations Joe Favorito.

It has been the Knicks' contention that Brown violated the terms of his contract by trying to consummate trades without Thomas' approval, criticizing players through the media and failing to return Thomas' phone calls.

Two surprise witnesses called were Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and Knicks assistant coach Dave Hanners, both close allies of Brown. Hanners has worked for Brown in Philadelphia, Detroit and New York but was retained on Thomas' staff because he has four years remaining on his contract.

Popovich flew to New York while his team was headed to Lyon, France, where the Spurs are holding their training camp. His presence suggests that the Knicks are trying to prove that Brown was attempting to make a trade with the Spurs without Thomas' knowledge.

NO MO: The Knicks reached a buyout agreement with veteran power forward Maurice Taylor yesterday, leaving them with one available roster spot.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/story/457043p-384669c.html

Where was Joe Glass when Larry was putting his foot in his mouth all season, you know what if Larry had STFU and handled things internally maybe things would have worked out differently.

if he is going to sue for termination damages and legal fees, the knicks should be able to sue for damage to player values (marbury) and Francis contract since he supposed asked for him.

Posted by franco12:

if he is going to sue for termination damages and legal fees, the knicks should be able to sue for damage to player values (marbury) and Francis contract since he supposed asked for him.

that's a good point - I mean, I don't think the Knicks should get to ask for that, but I don't Brown should get to ask for $12.5 million in damage to his image, either. If anyone damaged his image, it was Brown himself. He should get some of his contract, but not all of it. He clearly had no intention of trying to work with his employers.

the knicks are already asking for damages by trying not to pay the rest of his contract. that's $41 mil they're trying to "take back" or "take away" from him. as i see it.

Posted by Masterplan:

the knicks are already asking for damages by trying not to pay the rest of his contract. that's $41 mil they're trying to "take back" or "take away" from him. as i see it.

That's "creative accounting" there bro. Larry Brown CLEARLY broke the conditions of his contract. Doing so he is not entitled to his pay when terminated. Now, if he didn't break the contracts stipulations and they fired him then your wording is correct. It appears though, that he did so in numberous ways. I highly doubt the NBA will find in LB's favor, for a variety of reasons, but the most obvious being the fact that he broke some rules.

But, the Knicks should theoretically be able to sue for damages if they can show that LB did some things against the team. Ie. telling other teams about draft choice possibilities, asking for players and then rescinding that, etc.
EMS