Nothing has happened with the Lakers player roster, however, the coaching staff has been continuously changing.
This morning, Lakers Nation reported that the Milwaukee Bucks were looking at Lakers assistant coach, Steve Clifford, as a possible candidate to replace Scott Skiles, whom they fired during the regular season. Atlanta Hawks coach Larry Drew and Houston Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson were Milwaukee’s other two candidates.
However, as of this afternoon, Clifford has agreed to become the Charlotte Bobcats’ head coach. Mike Dunlap was let go from the Bobcats after only one season. Clifford’s deal is believed to be for three years and $6 million. If you recall, Clifford was added by Mike Brown to his coaching staff for this 2012-2013 season. Before that, he served as an assistant coach in Orlando for the Magic, and has also worked with the Knicks and Rockets.
Earlier this season, Chuck Person and Bernie Bickerstaff were told they would not be back this coming year as Lakers coaches. Eddie Jordan left L.A. to return to his alma mater and coach at Rutgers. Player development coach Phil Handy is also going to Cleveland with Mike Brown. And now, Steve Clifford is out. It looks like Mitch and the rest of the front office have a lot of rebuilding that involves more than just the players.
Lakers Nation conducted another poll yesterday to ask a compelling question sparked by Phil Jackson’s new book. We asked Lakers Nation, if they were starting a team, would you rather start with a big man or a perimeter scorer? 69 percent of you said you would pick a big man as opposed to a perimeter scorer. Check out the rest of the post to see reasons why and what us at LN had to say about it.
Lakers Nation News
NBA News: Milwaukee Bucks Coaching Search Includes Lakers Assistant
Dwight Howard, Golden State Rumors Shouldn’t Be Worried About
Lakers Look Back: 1985 NBA Finals and the Memorial Day Massacre
Happy Anniversary to Metta World Peace’s Memorial Day Twitter Mishap
Lakers Nation Reacts: Which Player Would You Start A Franchise With?
Lakers News: Pau Gasol Fine With Dwight Howard Testing Free Agency
Lakers Nation Tweets Of The Week: Tornado Relief, Spurs In Control
Lakers Rumors & News Recap: D’Antoni Says Kobe Will Return To Form
Lakers News
The Other Star Guard [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers’ Mike D’Antoni Confident Kobe Bryant Will Return to Form [latimes.com]
Plan D12: Are Rockets Bigger Threat Than Lakers? [Dallas Mavericks Report]
Kobe Bryant Adds to His Tattoo Collection [Lakers Now]
Player Capsule: Steve Nash [THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS]
Kupchak Not Concerned About Howard-D’Antoni Relationship [OC Register]
Lakers’ Financial Advantage May Not Be Enough for Dwight Howard [LA Times]
Pau Gasol is like everyone else: waiting on Dwight Howard [ProBasketballTalk]
Kobe Bryant Featured in NBA Playoffs Promo [Inside the Lakers]
Contingency Plan if Howard Leaves [ESPN]
Flynn Robinson’s Time With Lakers ‘One of Best Moments’ in His Life [latimes.com]
Jackson Questions D’Antoni’s Use of Dwight Howard [OC Register]
Lakers Assistant Steve Clifford Reportedly Agrees to Coach Bobcats [Lakers Now]
Jackson: Bill Russell Over Jordan [LA Lakers Index]
NBA News
Tony Parker, Spurs Penetration is Puzzle Grizzlies Can’t Solve [ProBasketballTalk]
Tim Duncan Shines Brightly as San Antonio Comes From Way Back to Take a 3-0 Series Lead [Ball Don’t Lie]
Paul George vs. LeBron James — This is the Start of Something Big [ESPN]
Report: Lakers Assistant Steve Clifford Reaches Deal to be Bobcats Coach [ProBasketballTalk]
Turnovers Doom LeBron, Heat Down Stretch [Heat Index Blog]
George, Hibbert Get Better of James [TrueHoop Blog]
New Kings’ Ownership to Let GM Petrie Go [ProBasketballTalk]
Tim Duncan Lifts Spurs to Brink of NBA Finals [Yahoo! Sports]
Matt Guokas Has Been Let Go as Orlando Magic Television Analyst, and We Don’t Understand Why [Ball Don’t Lie]
What Memphis Has to do to Extend its Season [ProBasketballTalk]
Memphis Grizzlies Approaching Exit to Playoffs Because Shooting Just Isn’t There [ESPN]
San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies – Recap [ESPN]
LeBron Won’t Let Dwyane Wade Answer Questions About His Knee [ProBasketballTalk]
Five Things the Grizzlies Need to Do to Beat the Spurs in Game 4 and Stay Alive [Ball Don’t Lie]
Lionel Hollins of Memphis Grizzlies All For Anti-Flopping Rules [ESPN]
Raptors Closing in on Hiring Masai Ujiri Away From Nuggets to Head Up Basketball Operations [ProBasketballTalk]