More Offseason Analysis: Coaching changes, news | Free Agency | Draft
Byron Scott is the "leading candidate" for the Los Angeles Lakers' vacant head-coaching position, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. He has had three interviews with the team.
Talks with the former Nets and Cavaliers coach have not progressed to the contract stage, as the Lakers continue to weigh whether to hold off on hiring a coach before they make their pitches to free agents.
The possibility of soliciting opinions of free agents before making a hire is a large part of the reason the Lakers have taken such a deliberate approach to their coaching search since Mike D'Antoni resigned after the season.
Los Angeles is the league's only franchise without a head coach, and it waiting for input from free agents has some logic behind it. While it might not be the best precedent to set, it's worth knowing if Scott would influence potential Lakers one way or another.
Despite playing in Los Angeles during the Showtime era, Scott's teams haven't been known for pushing the ball. This is a stark contrast to Mike D'Antoni, and that could be what the organization is looking for. It's hard to know how his style will fit the roster until the Lakers make some signings, though. Aside from Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Kendall Marshall and Robert Sacre, everyone from last season's squad will hit free agency.
