Lakers (Photo : REUTERS)
The Los Angeles Lakers' plan this offseason won't be just limited to retooling its roster makeup, because the purple-and-gold appears more than willing for another change of guard in their coaching staff with Tom Thibodeau emerging as favorite to replace Byron Scott.
Jordan Schultz of the Huffington Post reported that the Lakers would not rule out the prospect of hiring Thibodeau as its next coach despite facing the possibility of paying four head coaches next year (Mike Brown, Mike D'Antoni & Scott).
"Being told that the Lakers will be pursuing Tom Thibodeau. Byron Scott has just the one year left. Lakers would be paying four head coaches," Schultz said via the Huffington Post.
Thibodeau, who guided the Bulls to five consecutive postseason appearances during his tenure, is expected to be the most-sought head coaching talent available in the market once Chicago decides to part ways with the veteran bench tactician.
While the Bulls have kept their silence about their plans with their current head coach, Thibodeau is already drawing offers from multiple teams such as the Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets and the New Orleans Pelicans. The Lakers' inclusion in the list came as a shocker since they just signed Scott to a four-year, $17 million deal last summer.
Scott hasn't had a memorable first year of coaching duties with the Lakers, who finished with the worst record in franchise history with 21-61. However, they nevertheless get a consolation price out of the losing season by landing the no.2 overall pick in this year's draft.
Still, the Lakers front-office seem to be determined in acquiring the best talent available not just for its roster but its coaching staff as well, and Thibodeau's track record states that he has all the tools to lead a struggling franchise like the Lakers back to title contention.
