By Montezz Allen
Mike Krzyzewski, Jeff Van Gundy and Brian Shaw (Associated Press Photos)
The Lakers are in search of their 25th head coach in franchise history. They’ve been having trouble keeping a permanent coach ever since the Zen Master left after the 2011-12 season.
In fact, they’ve hired three coaches in three years.
Yikes.
Mike Brown was fired just five games into his gig in 2012 and Mike D’Antoni resigned April 30 after the franchise made it clear that they weren’t going to pick up the final year of his option.
It’s been pretty bad to watch to say the least. Jim Buss and Jeanie Buss have definitely made putrid decisions in hiring coaches over the last few years.
Since D’Antoni’s resignation, the Lakers haven’t reached out to any potential candidates. GM Mitch Kupchak says the team won’t begin its search until the NBA Draft lottery order is revealed on Tuesday night. Afterward, Kupchak plans to start a preliminary round of phone interviews.
One might ask: Shouldn’t the Lakers be desperate in choosing their next head coach after everything that’s gone down with team?
My answer to that is simple: NO.
We’ve seen what happened over the last two seasons when Los Angeles’ front office rushed into hiring a coach. Not only has the team struggled, but it’s failed to buy into what each coach was selling.
This time around it’s imperative that Kupchak, Jim and Jeanie Buss take the time to evaluate each candidate to make sure they’re the perfect fit for the long-term.
Although the squad has had terrible seasons between 2012-14, the team still remains an attractive destination for players and coaches.
The Lakers also understand the cards they’re holding. They only have three players under contract next season (Kobe Bryant, Robert Sacre and Steve Nash), eating up just $34 million of the salary cap; they have a significant amount of cap space to sign a max player and most of all, the team can potentially land picks 1-6 in this year’s NBA Draft lottery.
That said, there are a plethora of questions that need to be answered in determining who the Lakers’ next coach will be:
1. What are they looking for in their next coach?
2. Will the team buy into his philosophy?
3. Who are they considering?
4. Will he coexist with Kobe Bryant?
It’s easier said than done, but Jeanie, Jim and Kupchak have to keep these questions in mind.
First and foremost, their next coach must be able to coexist with Kobe Bryant. He’s the face of the franchise — the head of the snake.
The Bryant-D’Antoni relationship deteriorated to a point where they barely spoke to one another by the end of the season. Bryant would often use Lakers’ shootaround time to receive treatment in the training room.
D’Antoni believed his actions caused a disconnect between he and his teammates and reportedly asked him to “change his routine.” Bryant refused.
Secondly, the coach has to be a good recruiter in addition to being astute with the X’s and O’s. His system must fit the players or NO one will buy into it.
Lastly, he has to be a players’ coach. Again, this goes back to his relationship with Bryant. If Bryant can relate, then his teammates will follow.
The Lakers’ next coach doesn’t necessarily have to be well-liked. Remember, Bryant clashed with the great Phil Jackson at times. But Jackson produced results and that’s what mattered.
“Honestly, it’s not whether the players like the coach or not,” Bryant said as a guest on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last week. “It’s about getting results. Like somebody and those results go hand and hand.”
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