The Los Angeles Lakers closed out their worst season in franchise history with a 113-100 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, and now the focus shifts to offseason question marks such as the fate of head coach Mike D'Antoni.
According to ESPN, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and president Jim Buss have yet to decide on the fate of D'Antoni.
"No. No," Kupchak said last week via ESPN. "In fact, I told Jimmy, let's get to the end [of the] season, take some time off ... then review the season."
Mike D'Antoni to publicly address Lakers struggles now that season is over
The end of the season has come, but D'Antoni also said he hadn't spoken to the Lakers brain trust about his future with the team.
"We haven't talked," D'Antoni said per ESPN. "So that will be done in the next couple days and then we'll just see."
D'Antoni has a year and $4 million left on his contract with a team option for the following season, but he is slated to have an exit interview Friday which could prove to determine his fate.
"The next step will be to sit down with [Buss] and all them and [Kupchak] at the end of the year and talk things out, see where things are," D'Antoni said prior to the team's win over San Antonio, according to ESPN.
Guard Nick Young, who could depart through free agency this summer, led the Lakers (27-55) in scoring this season and said that D'Antoni didn't have much of a chance while coaching a depleted lineup lacking its superstars for most of the season as guys like Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash missed significant time.
"I think he handled everything well," Young told ESPN about his coach. "He came in on a bad situation -- getting picked over Phil Jackson. He already had a target on his back. So I think he handled all that well. From the boos and 'Fire D'Antoni!' I think he still comes in here with a smile and you can't ask for nothing more from Mike D'Antoni."
D'Antoni reflected on the season and even though it is a forgettable one for Los Angeles, he did take some positive memories from it
"I think about any season, you remember your relationships ... I remember some great memories with guys and moments that we've had," the coach told ESPN.
It remains to be seen if those memories will be his last with the Lakers.
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