After a couple of weeks, the Lakers have finally begun their coaching search. So far, the team has interviewed a couple of familiar faces in former Lakers coach Mike Dunleavy, and former player Byron Scott.
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While the process has started, general manager Mitch Kupchak does not expect to name a new head coach anytime soon. He re-iterated that point to Jaime Maggio in an interview on Time Warner Cable SportsNet:
“I wouldn’t say it’s a priority” – Kupchak on finding a new coach immediately (via @TWCSportsNet)
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) May 23, 2014
Right now, Kupchak’s focus is squarely on the upcoming NBA Draft. The team fell one spot to seventh overall, but Kupchak still believes that he can get an impact player at that position.
While a new coach isn’t at the forefront for the Lakers, Kupchak does have an idea of when he would like to have a coach by, as he told Maggio in the same TWC SportsNet interview:
Kupchak would like to have a coach in place by June 26, the date of the NBA Draft (via @TWCSportsNet)
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) May 23, 2014
The Lakers are sure to continue interviewing coaching candidates in the meantime, but as long as they have a coach in place by draft night, to give his opinion on what player fits his system, there should be no issue.
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The Lakers believe they have their priorities in order and they will move forward with the plan they have in place. The wheels have just begun to turn this off-season and things will start to take shape soon enough.
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