Brown’s Detroit future will be decided today

Larry Brown’s future in Detroit will be settled once and for all today when the coach and his representatives meet for a second day with Pistons management, according to a league source with knowledge of the team’s intentions.

Brown met in person in Detroit on Wednesday with team owner Bill Davidson, having a conversation that was described as “cordial and straightforward” by an attendee of the meeting.

Brown’s future has been up in the air since disclosure of his discussions with the Cleveland Cavaliers about an executive’s position became public during the Eastern Conference finals.

Brown’s interest in the job irked Detroit management, but Brown has maintained that he wants to coach the Pistons next season if his health allows.

The Pistons want to either move forward with Brown or move ahead with a search to name his replacement.

Haslem signs 5-year deal with Heat

With work on Shaquille O’Neal’s multi-year deal to stay in Miami progressing nicely, the Heat have completed another of their top off-season tasks, signing power forward Udonis Haslem to a five-year contract that could be worth more than $33 million.

The Miami native wanted to stay in his hometown so much that he apparently turned down more lucrative offers from other clubs; his agent, Jason Levien, said Haslem left at least $10 million on the bargaining table.

Haslem averaged 10.9 points and 9.1 rebounds on 54 percent shooting – the NBA’s fourth-best percentage – this past season. In two seasons with Miami, Haslem has averaged 9.2 points and 7.7 rebounds.

Hall of Fame honors Magic star Hill

Orlando Magic star Grant Hill will be honored Friday with a locker at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to celebrate on- and off-court achievements.

“Any time the Hall of Fame recognizes you for anything, that’s quite a feeling,” says Hill, honored several times by the NBA for community service.

The locker, built at the Hall of Fame, will showcase memorabilia from Duke, the 1996 Olympics and the NBA. The dedication coincides with a display of Hill’s collection of African-American art.

Hill played in 67 games last season and averaged 19.7 points a game after being sidelined for much of the previous four seasons with a left ankle problem.

Sonics’ Pendergraft gets extension

The Seattle SuperSonics announced they have signed director of basketball operations Dave Pendergraft to a multiyear contract extension.

Pendergraft joined the Sonics as a scout in 1999 and was promoted to his current position in July 2001.

Before working for the Sonics, Pendergraft was director of player personnel for the New Jersey Nets.

Ha will miss rest of summer league

Portland Trail Blazers center Ha Seung Jin will sit out the rest of Las Vegas summer league play with left knee tendinitis. The 7-foot-3, 305-pound Korean was a second-round draft pick by the Blazers in 2004.

In three summer league games, Ha averaged 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 21 minutes.

Ha saw limited action as a rookie, averaging 1.4 points in 5.6 minutes in 19 games. He became the first Korean to play in the NBA when he made his debut on Jan. 7 against Miami.

“The Blazers also learned that 6-8 Russian forward Sergei Monia had secured a visa, but too late to join the players in Las Vegas. The No. 23 pick in the 2004 draft will likely join the team for training camp in the fall.