With many of the top-tier free agents finding homes, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak is turning his attention back to the team's search for a new coach. Byron Scott has emerged as the favorite to land the gig, and Los Angeles is reportedly bringing him in for a third interview on Wednesday.
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ESPN Los Angeles reported that sources close to the Lakers revealed that Scott will once again interview with Kupchak for the Lakers' head coaching vacancy, just two days after the GM revealed that a new coach will be announced within the next week or two.
Kupchak has kept to his word by taking a slow, methodical approach to finding a new leader for the team and he told the affiliate that the interview process isn't finished.
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Scott played 11 of his 14 NBA seasons with the Lakers and has met with team brass twice already this summer. Scott even has the blessing of Kobe Bryant, who has been vocal about wanting to have a say in who the team hires as its next coach as he seeks a sixth NBA title after signing a two-year extension last season to remain in L.A.
Whether or not management considers Bryant's wishes is up in the air, but Kupchak addressed the search during the Lakers 89-88 overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors in summer league play on Monday.
"Maybe we can wait until September," Kupchak quipped to reporters. "Obviously that's one of the next things that we're going to address, and with putting the roster together and getting through the draft and getting through this last period, a week or two, the next thing we're going to work on is the coach, and I think we're going to have somebody in the next couple weeks."
Other than Scott, the Lakers have approached five coaches about the vacancy including Mike Dunleavy, Kurt Rambis, Alvin Gentry, Lionel Hollins and George Karl. Hollins has since been hired by the Brooklyn Nets to replace Jason Kidd, who departed for the Milwaukee Bucks, while Gentry and Rambis took associate head coaching positions with the Warriors and New York Knicks respectively.
Scott remains the favorite to land the gig, and much like Kupchak he's taking a patient approach with the process.
"It's still open," Scott told SportsNet last week. "I know, in my dealings in talking with Mitch and Jim [Buss, vice president of player personnel], they want to get the roster together and then focus on the coaching. So, myself, or whoever else are the other candidates, that's what we're all waiting for and we're kind of looking at what's going on [in free agency] to see if that's all done and then see next week what they're going to do with the coaching vacancy."
The Lakers are looking for a new coach following the resignation of Mike D'Antoni, who took a $2 million buyout after it was reported that Los Angeles was expected to bring him back next season but wouldn't automatically pick up his option for 2015-16.
The Lakers need all the help they can get as they are coming off of a season where they finished a franchise-worst 27-55 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
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