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Lakers Rumors: Mitch Kupchak Has Permission to Talk to Luke Walton

By Cody Williams

November 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton (left) talks to Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24, right) after the game at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 111-77. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton (left) talks to Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24, right) after the game at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 111-77. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak was given permission to talk with Luke Walton after Warriors’ first round series

Though there are obviously several potentially workable candidates to fill the void as the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers out there, it’s become clearer by the hour since the firing of Byron Scott, that the Lakers are making  current Golden State Warriors assistant coach and former Lakers forward Luke Walton their top priority in this coaching search.

However, the Warriors are obviously involved in a strenuous playoff series against the Houston Rockets currently that has seen Stephen Curry be taken out of action due to injury. As such, Walton’s focus is on the task at hand and not out in LA. Once this series against the Rockets is over, though, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak will get the chance to break that focus for a bit.

According to Bay Arena New Group Warriors beat writer Diamond Leung, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr has said that Kupchak has gotten permission from the Warriors organization to talk with Walton once this first round series is over for Golden State:

For those Lakers fans curious about just how long it’ll be before Kupchak and perhaps some other members of the front office can meet with Walton, the Warriors could close out the series against Rockets on Wednesday night with a win. If they were to lose at home, though, they’d then travel to Houston for Game 6 that would be played on Friday.

As far aw what this means for the Lakers and the coaching search, though, this rumbling isn’t going to sway either the Lakers or Walton in any direction. However, it’s at least a positive sign that the Lakers can get a foot in the door early to try and lure Walton away from the Warriors staff.

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Golden State was already highly intriguing for NBA fans with the injury to Curry as you have to wonder what that means for the team having to try and put away Houston without him. Lakers fans will now watch the Warriors a bit more intently from now until the end of their first round, though, as Walton is now on the collective minds and hearts of the fans.

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