Just as important as getting a head coach is putting together the right coaching staff. Hiring top notch assistants is a staple of great franchises and can make a huge difference in the success of a team.
— Have You Seen These LIMITED EDITION “Mamba Strikes Back” T-Shirts? —
Head Coach Byron Scott took over the Lakers official twitter page today, and said that he is likely to finalize his coaching staff next week:
.@KSFantastic The coaching staff will probably be finalized in the next week. Stay tuned. #AskByron
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 8, 2014
There are a number of possibilities as to who will join the coaching staff. Former Laker Gary Payton has been mentioned as a possibility, and has even said he is getting interested in coaching.
— Lakers Nation BLOWOUT SALE! Shirts Start At $12.50 + Free Shipping! Use Code: REDEMPTION —
Scott will also look at the existing members of the Lakers coaching staff as guys like Mark Madsen are sure to get long looks from Scott. In fact, our own Serena Winters reported that Scott was meeting with the staff just a couple of days ago:
Filling out & finalizing the Lakers coaching staff is in the works. Per source, Byron Scott is meeting with existing staff members today.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) August 6, 2014
Hopefully Scott is able to put together an excellent staff. Fans have seen the difference great assistant coaches can make. Before he took over in Chicago, Tom Thibodeau used his defensive principles to help the Boston Celtics win a championship.
The San Antonio Spurs have seen a number of their assistants get head coaching jobs recently as well. Who Scott decides to bring in will go a long way towards getting the most out of this Lakers team.
[divide]Lakers Introduce Byron Scott (Part 4): One Promise To Lakers Fans