Topic: With the Lakers seemingly leaning towards keeping Mike D’Antoni for a third season, we wonder if the Lakers should pick up his fourth-year option if he leads the team to the playoffs this season.
Context: When the Lakers signed Mike D’Antoni, they gave him a three year contract with a team option for a fourth year. After suffering the most losses in franchise history, many fans are calling for D’Antoni to be removed now, but it looks as if the team will give him at least one more year.
D’Antoni has gone 67-87 in his two seasons in Los Angeles, with his lone playoff appearance ending in an embarrassing four game sweep to the San Antonio Spurs. However, he has dealt with an extraordinary number of injuries during his time with the Lakers.
Steve Nash has played in only 65 total games in the past two seasons, Kobe Bryant played in only six this year, and basically every role player of the last two years has missed at least some time due to some kind of injury.
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With D’Antoni however, comes his offensive system which doesn’t seem to mesh with the players on this roster. And, in general, it seems as if he just doesn’t fit with the high pressure, media-driven world of Los Angeles.
But if the team brings in a couple of new players, gets a healthy year from their stars, and makes the playoffs, should the team pick up the option on Mike D’Antoni for his fourth season?
Verdict: We went to Twitter and asked the Lakers Nation faithful if the Lakers should pick up the fourth-year option on Mike D’Antoni if he leads the team to the playoffs. These are some of the responses:
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation the only way he should be back is if he wins a tittle n by him comin back no big free agents will come to LA
— Arnizzy (@Arnizzy25) April 27, 2014
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation no. He'd have to win 3 rings next season alone for me to think he should stay.
— Parallel (@JustParallel) April 27, 2014
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation NO. LMMFAO Enough's enough already!!!!
— LBrowne (@LBoogieB24) April 27, 2014
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation Depends on the seed in my opinion. If they barely squeeze in then no, middle of the pack maybe.
— Eli (@EGB22) April 27, 2014
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation No. Most wanted him fired before the injuries when there was still playoff hope.
— Adam Uribe (@adamuribe) April 27, 2014
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation ONLY if they make the playoffs and past the 1rd round
— Tony Munoz (@amunoz629) April 27, 2014
I am not, in any way, surprised by the reaction of the fans to this question. Mike D’Antoni has completely lost the support of the Lakers fan base as a whole, and most are angry enough that he would return for a third season, let alone a fourth.
There are some, however, who base it off of what seed the Lakers grab in the playoffs, and how far they would go. A seventh-seed and quick first round exit and he shouldn’t be back, but a fourth-seed and making it to the second round, and it would be difficult to let him go.
Personally, I am with the majority of fans in wishing that the Lakers would move on from D’Antoni now rather than later, but I do believe that there have been a lot of things out of his control that have hindered his ability to win in Los Angeles.
I would prefer to see a new coach in charge of the Lakers, but if D’Antoni is able to move the Lakers into the group of contenders in the West, it becomes hard to say he shouldn’t get another year.
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