With 27 games remaining in the 2015-16 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to keep Kobe Bryant relatively healthy as well as develop their young core of D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.
Throughout the season, there have been reports about the future of head coach Byron Scott. While many have questioned how Scott has managed the young core, he is expected to remain with the franchise. However, the franchise ‘seems torn’ on whether he will return next season according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times:
The franchise seems torn on whether he’ll return for the third and last guaranteed year on his contract.
Also, Scott’s tough love approach has been a topic of discussion, via Bresnahan:
Others, however, wonder about the effectiveness of the tough love he administers to the team’s many young players.
With five head coaches relieved of their duties prior to All-Star Weekend, talks regarding Scott intensified when the Cleveland Cavaliers fired head coach David Blatt despite having the best record in the Eastern Conference.
As the Lakers are headed to the NBA draft lottery for the third consecutive season, it will be interesting to see what the franchise ultimately decides to do. While Scott has another guaranteed season on his contract left, the Lakers have been linked to Tom Thibodeau and Luke Walton in recent weeks.