Mike Brown Fired: $11M buyout won't be an issue

The Lakers ownership group is not concerned about the cost of buying out the contract of former head coach Mike Brown, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

Citing sources, Wojnarowski states that the club has made it clear that they will be able to buy out the $11 million remaining on Brown's contract and will still be able to invest in a new head coach. Assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff will coach Friday night's game against the Golden State Warriors and then a national search will begin for Brown's replacement.

Brown was fired on Friday afternoon after the Lakers opened the season with a disappointing 1-4 record. While the team has managed to generate a No. 6 ranking in offensive rating, the team's defense has struggled, ranking 23rd in defensive rating.

Brown led the Lakers to a 41-25 record in 2011-12 during his first season with the team, which ended with a second-round loss in the playoffs to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This story was originally published on SBNation.com.