Mike Brown gets votes of confidence -- so yeah, he's fired

Media sources are reporting that the Lakers have fired coach Mike Brown after opening the season an ugly 1-4. No replacement leaked yet.

"Earlier Friday, sources had told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that the team was using its upcoming six-game homestand to evaluate Brown, but after numerous discussions over the past 48 hours, Lakers management came to a unanimous decision that the team clearly wasn't heading in the right direction and it was best to fire him now," says ESPN LA

Assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff is expected to coach tonight against Golden State. The search is on for Brown's replacement. The LA Times says the candidates "could include" Mike D'Antoni, Jerry Sloan, Nate McMillan and Phil Jackson.

Everybody from GM Mitch Kupchak to Kobe Bryant had expressed confidence in Brown during the slow start to the season.