Jerry Sloan, Mike D’Antoni Co-Favorites to Be Next Lakers Head Coach

The Los Angeles Lakers are officially on the prowl for a new head coach.

The firing of Mike Brown has opened the door for quite a few big-name coaches that are currently searching for jobs or enjoying retirement.

Of the potential head coaching candidates out there for the Lakers, Phil Jackson is without a doubt the most attractive considering his success and history with the team in two prior stints in Los Angeles. Despite that being the case, the Zen Master isn’t the favorite to land the job with two other big-names neck-and-neck in terms of odds courtesy of Bovada:

Who will be the next full time Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers?

Mike D’Antoni                2/1

Jerry Sloan                    2/1

Phil Jackson                  5/1

Brian Shaw                    5/1

Nate McMillan               6/1

Bernie Bickerstaff           8/1

Total Regular Season wins for the Los Angeles Lakers

Over/Under                    49.5

How will the Lakers 2012-2013 Season End?

Do Not Make the Playoffs                                   13/2

Eliminated in First Round                                    12/5

Eliminated in Conference Semifinals                    5/1

Eliminated in Conference Finals                          9/2

Eliminated in the Finals                                      7/2

Win NBA Title                                                    4/1

With only five games played thus far, any one of these head coaching candidates can come in and help turn things around in Los Angeles. This roster, filled with superstars and veterans looking to win a championship, only needs a step in the right direction with a proven system brought in by one of the very capable candidates listed above.

As the Lakers head into the sixth game of the season against the Golden State Warriors at the Staples Center on Friday night, Mike D’Antoni seems to be the popular choice to replace Brown. With D’Antoni’s history with Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant (Team USA), two of the team’s best players might be all-in on the idea of hiring D’Antoni.

Although Jackson isn’t completely out of the question in terms of coaching the Lakers for a third time, D’Antoni and Jerry Sloan appear to be clear frontrunners to become the next head coach in Los Angeles.

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Video: Mike Brown Fired, Howard Wants Phil Jackson

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