As Lionel Hollins emerged as a front runner for the Brooklyn Nets job, the Lakers moved to try and meet with him this week. Apparently it was too late as Hollins and the Nets are finalizing a deal to make Hollins the new head coach according to ESPN’s Marc Stein:
Nets and Hollins are in the final stages of hammering out a multiyear deal that will pay former Grizz coach in excess of $4 million annually
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 2, 2014
Hollins had been one of the favorites for the Lakers job along with Byron Scott. The Lakers were the only team in the NBA left without a coach, but the sudden opening in Brooklyn gave Hollins another option and the Nets quickly targeted their guy.
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Lionel Hollins had a successful run with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2009-2013. He led the team to an upset of the San Antonio Spurs as the eighth seed in 2011, and won a franchise record 56 games in his final season, making it to the conference finals in 2013.
Hollins had been considering an assistant job with the Houston Rockets as he was unsure whether he would get another chance this year to be a head coach, but a job opened up unexpectedly and he took the chance.
With Hollins off the table, it would seem to make it even more likely that Byron Scott will be the next coach of the Lakers. Other possibilities include Mike Dunleavy, George Karl, and Kurt Rambis.
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