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Lakers Coach Byron Scott Tries Hand At Tampering, Talks Durant-Kobe

By Phil Watson

Dec 14, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) laughs with head coach Byron Scott during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 100-94. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) laughs with head coach Byron Scott during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 100-94. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Since we’re talking about the free agency of a guy who won’t actually be a free agent for two years, Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott has gone all in.

Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott has some work to do in order to become one of the NBA’s master tamperers.

The key is to be subtle, suggestive without being overt.

Scott’s effort on Friday was an epic fail on the whole “subtle” part.

Talking about Kevin Durant’s recent statements that he would love to play with a guy like Kobe Bryant, Scott unleashed this gem, sure to cost him thousands of dollars.

Remember the good old days? When we only used to talk about guys who were pending free agents?

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Not anymore. Now it’s all about the guys who will be pending free agents after the guys who are currently pending free agents aren’t free agents anymore.

Whew.

Durant’s contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder runs through the 2015-16 season.

To channel Allen Iverson, we talkin’ ‘bout 2016. Not 2015. Not 2015. Not 2015. 2016, man. We talkin’ ‘bout 2016.

The silly season of free agency courtship is largesse at its finest, grown men, professional players, getting courted the way colleges have to hide—lavish accommodations, parties, dinners, all the finery.

Heck, when Carmelo Anthony was being courted by the Houston Rockets last summer, they even gave him another guy’s uniform number who was still on their team.

You could almost hear general manager Daryl Morey asking someone: “So if we put ‘Melo on giant banners out in front of the arena wearing No. 7, no one will tell Jeremy Lin, will they?”

So Byron Scott’s next paycheck will be a little light as it’s likely the NBA people in charge won’t be pleased that a coach is talking about a player who isn’t going to be free for 19 months.

It’s probably good, then, that he doesn’t get paid by the win.

Yes, I’m here all week.

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