Throughout this abysmal Los Angeles Lakers season once source of constant criticism from fans and experts alike has been head coach Byron Scott.
Whether it is his basketball strategy on the court or some of his comments off of it, Scott hasn’t endeared himself to Lakers fans this season and many believe he should be fired once the season ends.
Earlier this season the Lakers said he would be evaluated after the season, and according to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, Scott has a serious chance to return to the team next year as Lakers President Jeanie Buss is reportedly pushing for it:
Believe it or not, Byron Scott has what one source described as a “major chance” to stay with the Lakers; Jeanie Buss is said to be pushing for Scott behind the scenes.
Berger also notes that if this were to take place, it could set the stage for a complete reset of the franchise in 2017:
If so, it could clear the way for a top-to-bottom reset for the franchise in 2017, and the possible return of Jackson to run basketball operations with Luke Walton as the coach.
There has always been a real chance that Scott could stay and this report is simply the latest proof of that. The fact that Jeanie Buss is actually pushing for his return says a lot about how she values him, though it doesn’t guarantee a Scott return. It also begs the question as to whether others within the organization would prefer to let Scott go.
A complete reset in 2017 for the Lakers is interesting and there are already rumors about Phil Jackson wanting to return to Los Angeles. Waiting until then, however, would likely mean multiple more years outside of the playoffs. This summer is shaping up to potentially be the biggest in franchise history.