Cleveland ? For the first time in recent memory, the Cleveland Cavaliers made an off-season coaching move that didn’t involve someone being hired or fired.

Mike Brown, who led Cleveland to 50 regular-season wins and the second round of the NBA playoffs in his first year as coach, was rewarded Thursday as the club picked up his $2.5 million contract option.

Brown signed a three-year, $10 million deal with the option last June when he was named the 17th coach in franchise history – and the Cavs’ sixth in six years.

“It seemed like the right thing to do,” general manager Danny Ferry said. “From (owner) Dan Gilbert’s perspective and my perspective, this is the guy we believe is the right one to lead our team, and why not show the commitment to him.”

In exercising their option two years before they had to, the Cavaliers have shown a deeper commitment to the 36-year-old Brown, who began his pro coaching career breaking down videotape for the Denver Nuggets.

“We didn’t have to do this now,” said Ferry. “But we thought it was the right thing to do. He doesn’t need a vote of confidence. It wasn’t needed, which is why I think it says even more about Mike and the job he has done.”

Led by superstar LeBron James, the Cavaliers went 50-32 during the regular season and made the playoffs for the first time since 1998. Cleveland eliminated Washington in six games in the first round, and then pushed the Detroit Pistons to a Game 7 before losing in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Brown managed to keep the Cavaliers happy, focused and winning despite not having guard Larry Hughes for 45 games because of an injury.

When he was hired by Gilbert last year, Brown’s main objective was to help build a team around James, the club’s 21-year-old phenom who single-handedly almost got the Cavs past Detroit.

Ferry said he received positive feedback from Cleveland’s players about Brown’s first-year performance.

“You looked at the energy of the group, the trust that they had in him, the high level of communication. It was a good, healthy, strong, rich environment,” Ferry said. “That was a big reason. Making the playoffs just affirmed the direction we wanted to go. I really believe this is the right decision.”