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Los Angeles Lakers: Five best candidates to replace Mike D’Antoni

By Andrew Melnick

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Byron Scott

NBA: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers /

The list starts off with a former Lakers’ player, Byron Scott.

Scott has been a head coach with three different teams, most notably leading the then New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. After the Nets got off to a 22-20 start the following season, he was fired. He reemerged with the New Orleans Hornets in 2004 and after a few rough seasons, the Hornets finished 56-26, losing to the San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the second round. He was canned after just nine games in 2009. He then took over the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 following the departure of LeBron James, but that was an impossible situation and he last just three years.

According to Ric Bucher, the Lakers believe Scott can still be a successful and believe he could help lure Cavaliers’ point guard Kyrie Irving out west because of the relationship they built in Cleveland. The two “still text on a regular basis and the relationship is very good.”

Scott has a career record of 416-521 in the regular season and 33-24 in the postseason.

Steve Kerr

May 20, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; TNT broadcaster Steve Kerr during game four of the Western Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; TNT broadcaster Steve Kerr during game four of the Western Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports /

It is widely believed that New York Knicks’ President Phil Jackson has tabbed current TNT analyst Steve Kerr as the replacement for former head coach Mike Woodson in New York.

Jackson coached Kerr with the Chicago Bulls and recent reports indicate the Knicks hope to finalize a deal with Kerr before the first round of the postseason ends, likely in an attempt to stop the likes of the Lakers or possibly even the Golden State Warriors, if they fire Mark Jackson, from speaking with Kerr.

If the Lakers do come calling, Kerr may listen. He is a west coast guy, spending many years in Phoenix. He attended Pacific Palisades High School in Los Angeles.

Kerr has never been a head coach, but he did serve as the General Manager and President of the Phoenix Suns.

George Karl

May 8, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets president Josh Kroenke (left), head coach George Karl (center), and general manager Masai Ujiri (right) during the press conference announcing Karl as the NBA coach of he year at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets president Josh Kroenke (left), head coach George Karl (center), and general manager Masai Ujiri (right) during the press conference announcing Karl as the NBA coach of he year at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Karl has the fantastic distinction of being named the NBA’s 2012-13 Coach of the Year and then being fired by the Denver Nuggets in the same season.

Karl has been a success everywhere he has been, leading every team he has coached – the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets – to the playoffs. He has only missed the playoffs three times and on two of those occasions, he was fired before the season ended. He led the Supersonics to the 1996 NBA Finals where they lost the Chicago Bulls in six games.

Although Karl does not have a title, he has been successful at every stop and that should impress the Lakers. Karl seemingly had no intention of retiring and would likely listen if the NBA came calling.

Karl has a career record of 1,131-756 in the regular season and 80-105 in the postseason.

Jeff Van Gundy

Nov 13, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; ESPN broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy during the NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; ESPN broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy during the NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Jeff Van Gundy is mostly known as “that guy who complains on ESPN” these days, but he was once an excellent coach.

He coached the New York Knicks from 1995-2001 before resigning just 19 games into his final season. He took the Knicks to at least the second round of the playoffs five times and reached the Finals in  2000. He took over the Houston Rockets in 2003, but was hindered by injuries to stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming and lasted just four seasons.

His teams are known for their toughness, which is something that the Lakers could use.

Van Gundy has a career record of 430-318 and is 44-44 in the postseason.

Stan Van Gundy

May 2, 2012; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy reacts after a turnover by his team during the fourth quarter of game three in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Amway Center. Indiana defeated Orlando, 97-74. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2012; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy reacts after a turnover by his team during the fourth quarter of game three in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Amway Center. Indiana defeated Orlando, 97-74. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports /

If not Jeff Van Gundy, how about his brother Stan?

Van Gundy took over as Miami Heat head coach in 2003, leading the Heat to an unexpected victory in the first round of the playoffs behind rookie Dwyane Wade. The Heat saw what they had in Wade and traded for Shaquille O’Neal in the offseason, but the Heat fell to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.  Van Gundy reportedly did not get along with O’Neal and resigned after 21 games in 2005. He took over the Orlando Magic in 2007 and immediately turned them around, leading the Magic to their first playoff series victory since 1996 in his first season. He advanced to the NBA Finals in his second season. After reaching the 2010 conference finals, Van Gundy’s Magic lost in the first round two years in a row and he was fired amid the Dwight Howard controversy.

Van Gundy loves to space the floor and if the Lakers bring back a few of their shooters (and find a few more) and return Pau Gasol, who is a free agent, their offense could flourish.

Van Gundy is 371-208 in the regular season and 48-39 in the playoffs.

Other Potential Candidates

Apr 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Kevin Ollie waves to fans after cutting down the net following the championship game of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament against the Kentucky Wildcats at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Kevin Ollie waves to fans after cutting down the net following the championship game of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament against the Kentucky Wildcats at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
  • Connecticut Huskies’ coach Kevin Ollie just led his alma mater to a championship but could be interested in returning to his home town of Los Angeles.
  • What good is a Lakers’ coaching list without Kentucky Wildcats’ coach John Calipari and Duke Blue Devils’ coach Mike Krzyzewski?
  • Ettore Messina reportedly impressed the Lakers when he was an assistant under Mike Brown.
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