Dan Gilbert has quickly managed to make a name for himself in his brief tenure as owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but for all the wrong reasons.

 In less than three months after purchasing the Cavs from long-time owner Gordon Gund for $375 million, Gilbert has been called literally everything in the book, from meddlesome to irrational to even bone-headed.  Some critics have painted the 43-year-old online mortgage tycoon as the fall guy for the Cavs? late-season demise.  
   
 While we aren?t ready to call the Dan Gilbert era in Cleveland an unmitigated disaster yet - it?s way too early for that - we do recommend that Gilbert show some patience - something he?s refrained from doing thus far - in his courtship of Pistons head coach Larry Brown to become Cleveland's next president of basketball operations.  

 Gilbert wasted no time putting his stamp on the Cavs, firing head coach Paul Silas on March 22, only three weeks after Gilbert took over the reins, with Cleveland smack dab in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff picture (34-30, good for fifth in the East at the time) ? a move that didn?t exactly pay off as the Cavs went 8-10 following Silas? dismissal and were eliminated from post-season contention on the final night of the regular season.  

 On April 21, Gilbert?s house-cleaning project became complete after he relieved general manager Jim Paxson of his duties, even though Paxson had two years and $2 million remaining on his contract.  

 While the Cavs were 185-307 in his six seasons as GM, Paxson was able to leave the franchise in a position to spend some money this off-season.  Nevertheless, Gilbert, rightfully so, wanted his man, a man who can lead the franchise to the Promised Land.

 ?We felt the team had made progress the past two years, but to get to a championship level, we felt we needed to bring our own people in,? said Gilbert following Paxson?s firing.  ?We?ve got a player (LeBron James) who we feel is the best basketball player in the game.  We need to build a team around him and not settle for mediocrity or a .500 season.?

 Which brings us to Larry Brown, Gilbert?s top choice to become team president.  

 Gilbert has reportedly been interested in Brown for weeks now, but appears to be getting antsy and wants Brown to make a decision by today for fear of losing out on other viable candidates should Brown decline.  

 While Gilbert doesn?t want to be left out in the cold, if Brown is his man, Gilbert must not jump the gun this time around.

 Although Brown will always be a coach at heart, the writing appears to be on the wall that his tenure in the Motor City is coming to an end.  

 At 64, Brown isn?t getting any younger and continues to suffer from complications stemming from his hip-replacement surgery last November.  Gilbert has had permission from Palace Sports & Entertainment president Tom Wilson to speak with Brown, who has three years remaining on his current five-year, $30 million deal, and Indiana Pacers assistant coach Mike Brown, expected to be named Cleveland?s next bench boss, has reportedly been given Brown?s seal of approval.

 For Gilbert to rush Brown into a decision would be foolish, especially considering that Brown has a vested interest right now with his current team as the Pistons find themselves battling the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.  Brown?s top priority should be returning the Pistons back to the Finals.

 Given Brown?s experience and knowledge of the league from top to bottom, he is tailor made to become Cleveland?s second franchise ?face?, if you will, behind King James.  It would be a shame if Gilbert losses out on a Hall of Famer because he was pressed for time.  

 If Gilbert truly wants the Cavs to become a title contender in the near future, he should worry less about timetables and hire the right man for the job ? Larry Brown.  

 Kostas.Bolos@realgm.com