After weeks, even months, of speculation, the Lakers appear to finally be moving forward with their coaching search, for better or worse. According to Chris Broussard, the Lakers have offered the head coaching job to Byron Scott and are now in the process of negotiating terms of an agreement.
Sources: The Los Angeles Lakers have offered Byron Scott their head coaching job. The two sides are now in negotiations.
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 25, 2014
Scott is the lone remaining candidate of the Lakers original crop of coaches the Lakers interviewed. With a love-him or hate-him reaction from the fan base, Scott was always a polarizing option. However, Scott does have a history both with the Lakers and as a successful head coach. Even more, Scott has received the backing of Kobe Bryant, the biggest nod you can get in Lakerland.
Scott most recently coached Cleveland from 2010-2013, the post-LeBron years. He amassed a 64-166 record in those three years, never winning more than 24 games. He has, however, had success in the past, turning the New Orleans Hornets from an 18-64 team in his first year to a 56-26 team that lost in seven games in the Conference Semifinals.
He also led the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals in 2001-02 and 2002-03, but won just two games in those two appearances. Now, he’ll be tasked with his biggest challenge yet, faced with a Lakers franchise that is at it’s lowest point in franchise history and searching for a revitalization.
Let us know below if you think Scott is the right choice for the Lakers!