Coaching rumors about big-market squads Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks continue to swirl as of late as the two squads continue to struggle to move up of the Western and Eastern Conference standings respectively.
One intriguing speculation is that the Lakers is reportedly planning to keep head coach Byron Scott for one more year as the team waits for former boss Phil Jackson to return to La La Land.
CBS Sports' Matt Moore reported the rumor, citing a tweet by Bleacher Report's Howard Beck, saying that the "Lakers keep Byron 1 more year, just in case Phil opts out and returns to LA and wants to pick the coach".
Jackson, the 11-time NBA champion coach, has the option to finish his contract as the Knicks' president at the end of the 2016-2017 season and the Lakers are said to be "hoping" that he might return to the franchise also in a front office role. It should be noted that his current partner, Jeanie Buss, is the current president and part-owner of the Lakers.
In the report, Moore said that keeping Scott for another year would be a "partial disaster" for the club as the 54-year-old former LA shooting guard has arguably not done anything positive for the franchise except for "improving the team's draft stock".
Moore also pointed out that the 70-year-old Zen Master's legacy is already secure and so he will most probably not do anything that will tarnish it at this point of his life, which means there is little to no chance that he will leave New York after next season. He then said that LA is better off to "focus on moving forward" than trying to endure today's losses while possibly waiting for nothing.
Fansided's Michael Saenz also noted that the Lakers should not "throw away another season by keeping the toxic Byron Scott" as the coach has definitely not properly led his young trio of D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle to develop as they should have this season.
However, with Kobe Bryant gone next season, Scott's style may change from what right now is a farewell tour for their outgoing superstar into a real, competing basketball team.