Could Doc Rivers be Lakers next head coach?
What if the Lakers had a master plan for their head coaching gig? What if they were twiddling their thumbs, waiting patiently for one of the NBA’s best coaches to suddenly — perhaps surprisingly — emerge on the market? Jalen Rose and Bill Simmons don’t think it’s too farfetched.
Smart for the Lakers to hold out on hiring a HC to see if Doc Rivers can shake loose from the Clippers. #staytuned
— Jalen Rose (@JalenRose) July 23, 2014
Sometimes, the media is too smart for their own good, however. The Lakers quickly stomped out that rumor.
"Amid all the unanswered questions who the Lakers will hire as their next head coach and when, two team sources strongly disputed that any delay stems from waiting out to see if Clippers coach Doc Rivers will become available because of embattled owner Donald Sterling prolonging a costly litigation battle."
The Doc to Lakers rumors are just that — rumors. They should be disregarded for the time being. Sources told Kurt Helin at Pro Football Talk that players and coaches want to stay with the franchise, which has legitimate title aspirations.
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Helin points out, perhaps, the most problematic conflict in situation. River is the head coach and general manager of the Clippers — the end all, be all. The Lakers already have a General Manager in Jim Buss, who likely had no interest in stepping aside.
No, the Lakers will likely find a more attainable coach like Byron Scott, who Helin says is the front runner in the Lakers search.