DETROIT -- Even after his first face-to-face meeting this
month with the Detroit Pistons, Larry Brown's future with the team
is still undecided.
"We had good dialogue about some internal things," Brown said
Wednesday night in an interview with The Associated Press.
The Hall of Fame coach, his agent, Pistons owner Bill Davidson
and president of basketball operations Joe Dumars got together
Wednesday morning and decided they needed to talk again.
"Both sides have a clearer understanding of the situation and
decided to discuss this again Thursday via phone," team spokesman
Matt Dobek said.
Brown, who was joined by his agent, Joe Glass, said he was glad
he traveled to speak with Dumars and Davidson. He had been resting,
on doctor's orders, at his vacation home in New York before flying
to his home in suburban Detroit.
"We're going to talk some more," said Brown, declining to
elaborate. "I'm glad I came and got to sit down and talk with Joe
and Mr. D."
Brown's agent and Dumars have spoken at least twice since the
64-year-old coach checked out of a hospital almost two weeks ago.
"I will only say that we're still talking," Dumars said
Wednesday night.
The morning after the NBA draft, Brown was hospitalized for two
days to address a medical problem that developed from complications
following hip surgery in November and didn't go away after a second
procedure in March.
Brown has said if doctors deem him healthy enough, he wants to
return next season to Detroit -- and insists he will not coach
another NBA team. Still, many have reported that the New York
Knicks will not hire a new coach until they know for sure that
Brown is not available.
The Pistons have said they would welcome Brown back, if he's
willing to return.
He signed a five-year contract worth about $25 million, plus
incentive bonuses, two years ago.
Brown has declined during interviews with the AP to say whether
he would want to continue coaching if the medical problem persists.
The Cleveland Cavaliers talked with Brown about being their
president of basketball operations after the Pistons gave them
permission during the spring. Cleveland hired Danny Ferry to be its
general manager last month. When Cavs owner Dan Gilbert was asked
if Brown could work for the team in a consulting role, Gilbert did
not answer directly.
Last year, Brown became the first coach to win NBA and NCAA
championships. He won the college title with Kansas in 1988.
The Pistons came up short in their bid to repeat this season,
losing to San Antonio in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last month.