Through all of the conflicting reports since the start of the off-season, Mike D’Antoni has resigned as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne:
Mike D'Antoni has resigned as Lakers coach, source tells ESPN
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 1, 2014
With the Lakers finishing with the worst record in franchise history since moving to Los Angeles, there was speculation that the organization would move in a different direction at the head coaching position.
For most of the off-season, there were conflicting reports on D’Antoni’s future with the Lakers. Recently, there were reports that D’Antoni was looking for the team to pick up his fourth year option.
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With the 27-55 season which was the sixth worst record in the league, it does come as a surprise that D’Antoni has decided to resign. In two seasons in Los Angeles, D’Antoni posted an 67-82 record after being hired instead of Phil Jackson five games into the 2012-13 season.
With the head coaching position of the Lakers now available, there are numerous candidates the team will consider. In perhaps the most important off-season for the franchise since the 2003-04 season, the Lakers will have a high draft pick in this year’s highly anticipated draft to go along with ample cap room.
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