NBA News 2014: Lakers 'Leaning Towards' Firing Mike D'Antoni By End of Season?

A recent report by Sports Illustrated says that LA Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni may be holding his position on the team for the last time, even after General Manager Kupchak signed his extension contract on April 8, 2014. 

The Lakers are reportedly relieving D'Antoni of his coaching duties when the regular NBA season ends and opt not to make use of the last year of his contract, with $4 million guarantee. The Lakers are most likely looking at the market for a new head coach who will hopefully turn things around for the losing team in the 2014-2015 season. 

Kobe Bryant, who is still kept at bay for injuries, was not asked about his take on D'Antoni's future role and whether or not the Lakers will indeed pass on the existing final year of his contract. Bryant has a two-year extension with the team, starting in the 2014-2015 season. 

D'Antoni also commented on the speculations. "That's kind of the world we live in."  he said, "Where before, what three years ago, it would just be a little rumor that one person heard. Now, a million hear it. That's just the way the world is. It's social media and people run with it and whether it means anything or not, it's not really up to me anyway. So, you just go on. It's not a big deal." 

In a report by ESPN, the Lakers may be looking at John Calipari, coach of University of Kentucky Wildcats. The Wildcats lost to University of Connecticut in the 2014 NCAA finals. 

D'Antoni has coached the Los Angeles Lakers for two seasons, with the team holding a record of 70-90. Familiar stars like Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard have been plagued by injuries, missing a total of 204 games during D'Antoni's coaching period. D'Antoni may not have expected to lead a roster off the bench. The team has been 0-4, going into the end of the regular season, writes Lakers Nation.