Byron Scott confirmed on July 26 that he's going to be the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the team said that they have not reached an agreement yet.
According to USA Today, Scott and the Lakers agreed that he will be coaching the team for four years and will sign a contract worth $17 million. Scott said to KCBS-TV, "It feels fantastic. This is a dream come true. I always wanted to coach the Lakers, especially when I got to coaching. It's so unreal. I have to thank Mitch (Kupchak), Jeanie and Jim Buss to give me this opportunity."
An insider, however, said, "There is no done deal." On July 24, 2014, Jim Buss, owner of the Lakers, merely made a verbal offer to Scott. Scott and his agents, were still going through the proposal without confirming. Mike D'Antoni, the last Lakers coach, resigned after the regular season ended so the Lakers waited until after the 2014 draft and free agency before picking anyone for the job, The Sports Xchange reported.
Kobe Bryant, who is actively participating in the process of rebuilding the team, reportedly endorsed Scott, who is a former Laker. The two played together when Bryant was still a rookie in 1996. Other individuals who were interviewed to coach the team include George Karl and Lionel Hollins.
In a Fox Sports report, Bryant said, "He was my rookie mentor when I first came in the league, so I had to do things like get him doughnuts and run errands for him, things like that." He added, "We've had a tremendously close relationship throughout the years."
In a span of just over three years, Scott may be the Lakers' fifth coach. Phil Jackson handled the Laker's during the 2010-2011 season. Mike Brown followed Jackson, then Bernie Bickerstaff, who served as interim coach. Mike D'Antoni was the fourth.
Scott has been an NBA coach for 13 years, and he bagged the NBA Coach of the Year 2008 title. He previously handled the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New Jersey Nets and the New Orleans Hornets and his coaching record stands at 416-521. However, he was fired from the three coaching jobs.
In the previous season, he worked as a commentator for the Lakers. It was only at the end of July 2014 that Jim Buss and Kupchak put their focus back on who will coach the Lakers next, after getting busy in the free agent marketing and June draft.