With the Los Angeles Lakers 11-43 as All-Star Weekend nears, most have already looked to the off-season in hopes that changes will be made. Although the Lakers only have a top-three protected pick as a result of the Steve Nash trade in 2012, they are expected to have as much as $65 million in cap space to pursue free agents.
In order to return to championship contention, some feel changes first need to be made to the team’s management. While Jim Buss (executive vice president of basketball operations) has said he will resign if his rebuild plan fails, the rumors continue to grow louder with each losing season.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, there is still ‘strong belief’ former coach Phil Jackson will eventually return to the Lakers:
There’s still a strong belief Jackson will eventually find his way to his fiancée Jeanie Buss and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Yesterday, the Knicks President made a surprising move by firing head coach Derek Fisher. Despite their relationship, Jackson felt the franchise needed to move in another direction after the Knicks lost nine of their last 10 games.
While the Lakers are going through another losing season, head coach Byron Scott is reportedly expected to stay for the remainder of the 2015-16 NBA season. However, there will be numerous coaches available such as Tom Thibodeau and Luke Walton if the Lakers choose to go in a different direction.