The defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors are currently three wins away from reaching the NBA Finals for a second straight season. Although Luke Walton has signed on to become the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, the current Warriors assistant coach may still have a few more weeks before he can re-join the team that drafted him back in 2003.
As Walton finishes out the season with the Warriors, the Lakers brass is prepping for a busy summer ahead. Along with securing the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft this week, the team needs to fill out Walton’s coaching staff as well as prepare for next month’s draft (June 23) and the start of NBA free agency which follows a week later on July 1.
Former Lakers player and assistant coach under Phil Jackson, Brian Shaw, appears to be the team’s top target to join Walton’s staff. Shaw has reportedly been offered a spot on the staff, according to Bill Oram of the OC Register:
Brian Shaw has been offered a spot on Luke Walton’s Lakers coaching staff, but the former Phil Jackson lieutenant and Denver head coach said he is still weighing his next move.
On Wednesday, Shaw talked about the offer from the Lakers and the decision process he’s currently going through with Los Angeles not being his only potential destination, via Oram:
“I have some decisions to make fairly shortly,” Shaw told the Southern California News Group on Wednesday night after the Warriors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
“I have an offer and I have some options,” Shaw said.
Another option for Shaw is returning to the Indiana Pacers to join Nate McMillian’s coaching staff. Shortly after Frank Vogel’s departure, McMillian agreed to terms to become the new head coach and could reach out to Shaw to join him in Indiana.
Shaw may ultimately end up being Walton’s replacement on Steve Kerr’s coaching staff in Oakland. Kerr will have a few positions to fill and with Shaw being from the area, it would appear to be an ideal fit.
In the meantime, Kupchak and company will continue to communicate with Walton over the next few weeks until he can join the team. The coaching staff is a high priority for the Lakers, but it’s possible they’re waiting on Shaw’s decision to move forward.