The Lakers president is reportedly pushing to retain Byron Scott after the worst season in franchise history.
Los Angeles Lakers part-owner and president Jeanie Buss is making a push behind the scenes in support of embattled head coach Byron Scott, according to a report by CBS Sports’ Ken Berger.
In fact, Scott is described as having a “major chance” to return, according to the sources within the report. The Lakers hold a team option on Scott’s contract for next season.
According to the report, the move to retain Scott for one more season could be a precursor to a “top-to-bottom reset for the franchise in 2017” that could include the additions of Phil Jackson and Luke Walton as president of basketball operations and head coach, respectively.
Scott just led the Lakers through a disastrous 17-65 season, the worst in franchise history based upon win percentage (.207). In his two seasons as head coach, the Lakers have gone a combined 38-126.
The on-court product has been bad enough, but Scott’s short tenure on the Lakers’ bench has also been marred by spats with players and off-the-court drama. With the chapter finally closed on Kobe Bryant’s Hall of Fame career, the Lakers are expected to move forward with a young core built around guards D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, and forward Julius Randle.
But Scott criticized Russell at different points during the season, and distanced himself from the rookie in the wake of the Nick Young-Iggy Azalea situation. Scott also criticized Randle, saying in January that the second-year forward needed to “grow up.”
Scott has a career coaching record of 454-647, with stints with the then-New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Lakers. He guided the Nets to consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003 and was named the Coach of the Year in 2008 with the Hornets.
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