Larry Brown: 10 Candidates to Replace Departed Coach in Charlotte

The 9-19 Charlotte Bobcats are now without a coaching staff over the holiday weekend. Larry Brown has resigned as head coach, and Michael Jordan sent the entire staff packing. An interim coach has been named in Paul Silas, but Jordan has stated that a search for a permanent coach will begin immediately, and it seem like they would prefer not to keep an interim coach for any longer than they have to.

Now that Larry Brown is gone, there are several options available to Jordan. Will he make interim coach, Paul Silas, his permanent coach? Will he take a recently fired coach, such as Mike Brown? Could he even tap a former rival who has never held a head coaching job?

Here are 10 candidates that may be Brown's replacement.

10. Michael Jordan

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CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 08: Michael Jordan, owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, throws the ball back to an official during their game against the San Antonio Spurs at Time Warner Cable Arena on November 8, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: U

I don't think this has any possibility of happening, but there are rumors of this idea floating around, so I'll include it. On the surface, combining the positions seems like a terrible idea that could backfire tremendously. On the other hand, if you're a player and Michael Jordan can't get you motivated, then you're probably a lost cause.

9. Mark Jackson

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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 23: NBA basketball player Mark Jackson attends Kinect for Xbox 360 Launch Party held at a private residence on October 23, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Getty Images for Xbox)

Another person whose name has been popping up, but I think has no chance of happening, is Mark Jackson. Currently a commentator on basketball games alongside Jeff Van Gundy, he has a great basketball mind, but no coaching experience to speak of. He could make a good assistant coach, and he would command the trust of the players, though I can't see him automatically jumping to head coach.

8. Mike Fratello

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MIAMI - DECEMBER 16: Head coach Mike Fratello of the Memphis Grizzlies calls out plays to his team in the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on December 16, 2006 in Miami, Florida. The Heat defeated the Grizzlies 98-90. NOTE TO

A potential dark horse selection, I always liked Fratello as a coach, and he has a nice amount of NBA head coaching experience.

He hasn't coached in a few years, but he's taken years off at a time before. Tough to say how open Jordan would be to the possibility of this hire, but if he feels comfortable with him, then who knows.

7. Don Nelson

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 7: Head coach Don Nelson of the Golden State Warriors in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves during a basketball game at Target Center on April 7, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Warriors defeated the Timberwolve

Another dark horse possibility, and a man who has more coaching experience than most on this list combined. Nelson has coached in the NBA for over 30 years, and could possibly come back to it if the right offer was on the table. It could work because he coaches with the mindset of "the best defense is a good offense," and the Bobcats, right now, have a bad offense that can be fixed.

6. Jeff Van Gundy

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HOUSTON - APRIL 21: Coach Jeff Van Gundy of the Houston Rockets on the sidelines as his teams plays the Utah Jazz in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center April 21, 2007 in Houston, Texas. NOTE

Another commentator who was a former head coach, Van Gundy had some success as a coach for the Knicks and Rockets. He was the coach of Patrick Ewing, who Jordan greatly respects, and he's linked to enough coaching jobs that you can never really count him out.

5. Mike Brown

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BOSTON - MAY 13: Head coach Mike Brown of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts to a call against one of his players in the first half against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2010 NBA playoffs at TD Garden on May 1

While he would probably be a long shot—and sources say that he's not under consideration—but it could work. He's a defensive minded coach, and since that's where the Bobcats' strength is right now, that could be built upon. Yes, much of his success was on the coattails of Lebron, but if Jordan sees something good in him, then who knows.

4. Darrell Walker

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MIAMI - APRIL 15: Isiah Thomas (R) laughs with Darrell Walker, assistant coach of the Detroit Pistons, before Thomas was introduced as the new head coach for Florida International Univeristy men's basketball team at U.S.Century Bank Arena on April 15, 20

I think it will come down to these top four as to who ends up with the job.

Walker is another guy who has Jordan's trust, as a result, his name has been tossed around. The main reason he is a strong possibility, is that he served as coach of the Wizards for a time when Michael Jordan became president of basketball operations there. Because of this, he knows exactly what to expect from Walker.

3. Patrick Ewing

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CHARLOTTE - APRIL 24: Assistant coach Patrick Ewing (C) of the Orlando Magic looks at the referee (not pictured) during a timeout in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Charlotte Bobcats during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Time War

This option has gotten major buzz, and for good reason. Ewing has been an assistant coach on the Orlando Magic, and many say that he's ready for a head coaching gig. Besides that, Ewing and Jordan know each other very well, so Jordan would have full confidence in him. He could very well be named the coach next year after finishing up this season with the Magic.

2. Mike Woodson

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ORLANDO, FL - MAY 04: Head coach Mike Woodson of the Atlanta Hawks protests to an official while taking on the Orlando Magic in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 4, 2010 in Orlando, Florida.

Woodson is another guy who received serious consideration for the interim position alongside Ewing and Walker, and as coach of the Hawks, the team improved every year under him. He can build a team up and bring them to the playoffs—as we've seen—and he seems like he would be a great fit for the Bobcats.

1. Paul Silas

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SEATTLE - JANUARY 16: Head coach Paul Silas of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches the game against the Seattle Sonics on January 16, 2005 at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington. The Sonics won 105-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that

The interim coach is naturally going to be the frontrunner for the head coaching job, especially if he does well.

Lebron's first coach, Paul Silas has stated in the past that coaching the Bobcats would be a dream job, and now that he has the opportunity, there's no way that he lets it go to waste. Unless one of the other options seems more convincing after the season.

Silas will likely remain the head coach for a while.