On Tuesday morning, Derek Fisher was announced as the head coach of the New York Knicks. With the former Laker joining Phil Jackson in New York, the duo looks to turn the franchise back into a championship contender once again.
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During his introductory press conference, Fisher was asked about the Los Angeles Lakers’ head coaching vacancy and said the following on ESPN, according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Derek Fisher says the Lakers reached out to him casually and informally. Says he doesn't think the Lakers ever intended to pursue him.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) June 10, 2014
Late Friday, it was reported the Lakers would not pursue the five-time champion for their vacant head coaching position. However, Fisher said he was “surprised” as he informed the Lakers that he was already serious about joining his former coach in New York.
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With Fisher in New York, all the attention now is on the Lakers’ vacant position. As the franchise looks for an experienced head coach to be Mike D’Antoni’s successor, rumors surfaced on Monday night that the team is stalling their search in hopes of potentially landing a superstar in LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony.
Since D’Antoni’s resignation, the team has interviewed five candidates and hopes to have a new coach in place by the NBA draft on June 26. While having a head coach in place by the draft is important, the Lakers will have to make a decision on what they will ultimately do with the seventh pick.
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