NBA Rumors: Lakers might keep Byron Scott and wait for Phil Jackson in 2017

The Los Angeles Lakers might stick with Byron Scott one more year while hoping Phil Jackson outs out in 2017, returns to L.A., and picks a new coach.

The Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks are two of the proudest franchises in NBA history. Founded within one year of each other back in the 1940s, the two teams have combined for 18 championships over the 70-year history of the league. Both call home the two largest cities in the country, and they remain to this day two of the most valuable sports franchises in the world.

Yet despite all this, both teams have been sucked in a downward spiral in recent years, plagued by losing seasons and top-heavy contracts for aging superstars (Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony). Knicks president Phil Jackson already ousted head coach Derek Fisher earlier this season in favor of Kurt Rambis, and Lakers head coach Byron Scott has one of the hottest seats in the NBA these days.

Now there is new speculation that despite the gloom-and-doom in Los Angeles, the Lakers might stick with Byron Scott for another season while they play a waiting game with Phil Jackson.

Jackson has a clause in his contract with the Knicks that would allow him to opt out after next season, and with more and more reports suggesting a divorce could be on the horizon, the Lakers seem like a reasonable landing spot for the Zen Master should he decide to skip town and return to the West Coast.

While Jackson’s coaching days are probably behind him, the Lakers would presumably hire him on as a team executive and give him the opportunity to choose Scott’s successor following the 2016-2017 season (provided L.A. doesn’t miraculously turn around their fortunes next year and make the playoffs or something similarly crazy).

It’s just an unsubstantiated theory for now, but it’s definitely one of the more plausible scenarios worth keeping an eye on after this season ends and attention turns to offseason changes around the league.