The Los Angeles Lakers have already started the interview process with the team bringing in Mike Dunleavy Sr. and Byron Scott earlier this week. Most believe that Scott is the frontrunner for the head coaching vacancy in Los Angeles with the former Laker having close ties to the team and superstar Kobe Bryant.
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On Thursday, Scott made an appearance ESPN 710 on Max and Marcellus to talk about interviewing with the Lakers. Scott said the following about being a great fit and his relationship with Kobe:
“To say the least, I thought it was a perfect fit. I don’t know how most people feel. I don’t feel I’m a very arrogant guy, but I think I am the perfect guy for the job. I got a great relationship with Kobe. I know the team, know the roster, watched them all season long, and I just think it will be a great fit.”
Before it was announced that Scott had interviewed with the Lakers, GM Mitch Kupchak spoke to the media on Tuesday to talk about the direction of the team following the results of the NBA draft lottery. Kupchak talked about the search for a head coach and the team’s intention to draw out the process for at least another two to three weeks.
Along with Scott and Dunleavy, the Lakers are bound to interview a few more candidates before making their decisions. Former Laker Derek Fisher is expected to get a call from the team along with George Karl, Jeff Van Gundy and potentially many others.
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Although Scott may be considered the frontrunner, the team has gone in different directions than expected with the last two head coaches. After Phil Jackson left the team in 2011, Brian Shaw was considered a top candidate to replace him before the Lakers ultimately decided to hire Mike Brown.
Before Mike D’Antoni was hired following the firing of Brown, Jackson was expected to return for a third stint with the team. Jackson being hired for a third time was thought to be a foregone conclusion, but the team surprisingly went with D’Antoni in the middle of the night.
Needless to say, Scott becoming the new head coach is anything but a done deal moving forward. Scott may get the job in the near future, but the Lakers will continue to explore their options in the meantime.
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