Byron Scott Agrees to Coach NBA's Cavaliers, Replacing Brown, AP Reports

Byron Scott, who led the New Jersey Nets to consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals in 2002-03, has agreed to become coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Associated Press reports.

The Cavaliers and Scott are finishing details of the contract, Scott’s agent, Brian McInerney, told AP. Cavaliers spokesman Tad Carper said in an e-mail that the team can’t confirm the report. Scott, 49, would replace Mike Brown, who was fired in May after the team’s second-round loss in the National Basketball Association playoffs.

The hiring could make Scott the next coach for LeBron James, who won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award the past two seasons while leading the Cavaliers to a 127-37 record. James became a free agent today and is scheduled to have meetings with teams such as the New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers.

Scott has a 352-355 record, coaching the Nets in 2001-04 and the New Orleans Hornets in 2004-10. He was voted the NBA’s coach of the year after leading the Hornets to a 56-26 record during the 2007-08 season. Scott won three NBA titles as a player over 14 seasons, including 11 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

To contact the reporter on this story: Erik Matuszewski in New York at matuszewski@bloomberg.net