Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has promised a slow and calculated approach to hiring the Los Angeles' new head coach, but it appears as though the team may finally be near a decision and could be looking to bring Byron Scott on board soon.
Lakers Looking To Trade For Kevin Love?
According to Fox Sports Ohio, Scott, who is a former Lakers player and Cleveland Cavaliers head coach, has "emerged as the favorite" to fill the vacancy for the Lakers.
Scott has a solid relationship with the Lakers organization and a good rapport with star Kobe Bryant, who has said in the past he would like to have a say in who the team hires as the next coach, though it is unclear if Kupchak will take that into account.
Derek Fisher To Lure Kevin Durant To Knicks?
Bryant has publicly stated that he wants a coach that best gives him the chance to win a sixth NBA title and Kupchak said that he will consider Bryant's interests when hiring a new leader but also insisted Bryant won't have much of a say in the ongoing search.
There have been a handful of candidates linked to the job and the Lakers have met with quite a few names over the last few weeks, including talking with Scott on multiple occasions.
The Lakers are in the hunt for a new coach after Mike D'Antoni resigned at the end of the 2013-14 season. Los Angeles was reportedly leaning towards bringing D'Antoni back, but after it was revealed the team wouldn't be picking up his 2015-16 option automatically, D'Antoni opted to take a $2 million buyout.
D'Antoni faced a lot of questions about his job status as the injury-prone Lakers struggled throughout the campaign, and he didn't want to face those same questions and be a lame duck coach next season without his option in place.
Regardless of who takes over at the helm, they'll have their work cut out for them in a highly competitive Western Conference. The Lakers are looking to bounce back from a tough year and hope to rebuild through free agency in the next couple of offseasons while they currently are holding onto the No. 7 pick in the NBA Draft next Thursday.
The Lakers are coming off of a season where they finished a franchise-worst 27-55 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Scott could end up being the one who has the job of trying to turn the franchise around if the Lakers do in fact hire him.
For more coverage, follow us on Twitter @SportsWN and Like Us on Facebook
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
