Now that the off-season has begun for the Los Angeles Lakers, the team will have a number of major decisions to make. One of the most important surrounds head coach Byron Scott and whether or not he will return next season.
Scott made it known that he has received no assurances he would return, but there have been rumors that the team may be leaning towards retaining him.
If the Lakers do decide to move on from Scott, one potential option for a replacement would be former Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks. According to Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders, Brooks would be interested in the Lakers job should it become available:
Brooks, according to people close to the 2010 NBA Coach of the Year, has interest in a position with the Lakers should it become available. A number of teams are expected to pursue Kevin Durant’s former coach (and Durant himself), including the Washington Wizards.
That last note is important as the Wizards, and others, will likely be pursuing Brooks during the time that the Lakers will be making a decision on whether or not to part with Scott. Taking too long could result in the Lakers missing out on top options like Brooks or former Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Brooks also is very close with the top free agent option this summer, Kevin Durant. Getting Brooks is far from a guarantee that Durant would follow, but it would likely make the Lakers more of an option if it were to happen. Whatever the decision ultimately winds up being, the Lakers will need to make that decision soon.
