If the New York Knicks don't reach the NBA Finals this spring, a surprising rumor opens the door for them to get rid of Mike Brown without paying the $30 million remaining on his contract.
Despite being on the job for less than a year, Brown is feeling intense pressure in his first postseason as head coach of the Knicks. The former coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings was hired to lead the team ahead of Tom Thibodeau. However, they have won only two games more than last year, and they have disappointed fans more in 2025-26 than in the past few seasons.
Going into the campaign, most Knicks pundits felt the team would have to reach at least the NBA Finals for the coaches, executives, and players to keep their jobs. While firing a coach after one season is a rash move, questions have been raised about the team's chemistry this season and the Browns' decision not to adjust their system to get the most out of All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns.
Moving Brown would be costly as the team is still stuck with three years of the four-year, $40 million deal he signed over the summer. Plus, they still owe Thibodeau a three-year extension two summers ago. However, the team may be saved from trouble by an unexpected turn of events.
Can the Warriors save the NY Knicks from the big Mike Brown Bills?
Steve Kerr's future as coach of the Golden State Warriors is uncertain as his contract is set to expire soon. According to San Francisco Standard Warriors reporter Tim Kawakami, Brown would be the top choice as a replacement if Kerr opts out.
But why would an elite franchise like Golden State bring in a coach who has been dumped by four teams? Well, Brown remains popular after six seasons in the organization as Kerr's top assistant and interim coach on two occasions.
Knicks fans saw last season how difficult it is to get an interview and potentially get traded for a coach. However, if the franchise wants to move on from Brown and bring in someone like Billy Donovan, they certainly wouldn't be asking for too much in a trade with the Warriors.
