Byron Scott (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers may have to stick with Byron Scott as the team's head coach next season, with other potential candidates for a possible coaching job have all been crossed out.
One of the Lakers' possible agenda in the offseason is a coaching change, with the team reportedly "deliberating" whether to keep Scott or look for another coach, who could turn things around in Lakerland, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
Sacramento just getting started; Lakers deliberating whether to keep Byron Scott; Knicks' focus, for now, remains Kurt Rambis & David Blatt
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) April 20, 2016
Scott had miserably guided the Lakers to fail in the past season partly because of the injuries and LA's inexperienced squad. The Lakers could certainly afford to move to Scott even if the 55-year-old coach still has two more years left in his four-year $17 million contract with the Purple and Gold. It was the case when they fired Mike Brown and Mike D'Antoni and the Lakers could have that reference when they decide on Scott's future with the team.
However, if the Lakers really intend to move on from Scott's old-school style of coaching, they must do it quickly so as to have better options on who could be a better replacement. The best available free agent coaches like Tom Thibodeau and Scott Brooks have been linked to numerous teams already, and the Lakers may find themselves in a dire situation if they miss out on some of their potential coaching candidates.
Thibodeau has already been hired as the Minnesota Timberwolves' head coach for next season after agreeing for a multi-year contract more than $40 million. The former Chicago Bulls head coach could have been a great fit for the Lakers' core of young talents, but Thibs will instead use his expertise in the Wolves' own young pack led by Karl Anthony Towns.
Another possible and intriguing candidate to take over the Lakers' head coaching job is Brooks. The former OKC Thunder head coach, who has good ties with top free agent Kevin Durant, could be a major factor for the 16-time NBA champs to finally lure a superstar to wear Purple and Gold.
Brooks was reportedly interested in the Lakers' head coaching job should it become available, according to Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. However, Brooks is reportedly being courted by several teams, including the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets, reports ESPN.
Luke Walton seems like a good option for the Lakers, but the former Laker who won two NBA championships with the team, is not expected to leave his role with the Golden State Warriors anytime soon, although the defending champs have given him the permission to speak with other teams.
"Honestly, my mindset is mainly with these playoffs that we're in right now," Walton said, reports ESPN. "I know the way this works. You can't just tell everybody 'I'm not going to interview anywhere until the end of the playoffs' because most coaches have hired by then. So I'm very comfortable, and I love where I'm at right now."
The Lakers are in pole position to turn the franchise around, with the team heading into the free agency with a massive cap space to sign top free agents, as well as the chance to select one of the best prospects in this year's draft class. But the Lakers' coaching situation remains a factor in their attempt to become contenders again, and time could be running out for LA.
