The writing appears to be on the wall in Los Angeles with only a matter of time and certain conditions separating Phil Jackson and his third tour with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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The 11-time NBA champion is currently the number on target for the Lakers’ search for a new head coach with all other candidates considered backup plans for the storied NBA franchise. Although it seems to be close to a done deal with the team rumored to be closing in on a two-year deal worth $10 million per season with Jackson, the 67-year-old has a few conditions in terms of travel and control.
With Jackson potentially being hired by the Lakers in the coming days, the next order of business will be putting together a coaching staff. A few names from his former staff have already started to surface with Frank Hamblen, Kurt Rambis and Jim Cleamons on the short list, but two others have also emerged as assistants Jackson would like to have on the Lakers’ sideline as well.
According to Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News, Brian Shaw and Scottie Pippen are on Jackson’s radar with the negotiations with the Lakers kicking into high gear:
Jackson actually could be in place by Monday, according to league sources, with the Lakers trying to find a way to have Brian Shaw freed up from his coaching duties with the Indiana Pacers so that he can rejoin Jackson in L.A. The former Laker player and assistant coach, long talked about as a potential head coach with the team, is the Pacers’ assistant head coach. To get him out of Indiana, the Lakers will probably need to send the Pacers some sort of compensation.
Jackson is looking at adding Scottie Pippen, his former Chicago Bulls star, to his staff, sources said.
The addition of Shaw for Jackson’s coaching staff is a no-brainer with a long history between the two and Shaw’s aspirations to be an NBA head coach in the near future, but Pippen getting mentioned was unexpected.
Pippen has been actively searching for the right opportunity to break into coaching in the NBA ranks and may have found that opportunity with his former head coach willing to give him a shot in Los Angeles.
As for Shaw, it might be a challenge for the Lakers’ front office to bring him back with the Indiana Pacers not willing to let him go for nothing in return. There’s been no indication of exactly what it would take to snag Shaw from the Pacers, but if Jackson is insistent on bringing him in, the front office will likely get it done.
