It could be argued that the Los Angeles Lakers merely are doing their due diligence. Or it could be argued they have no idea what their looking for.
Jeanie Buss tried to convince Phil Jackson to coach the Knicks so Derek Fisher can coach the Lakers?
A day after Yahoo! Sports reported that the Lakers plan on hiring former Memphis Grizzlies coach and defense-minded Lionel Hollins for their head coaching vacancy, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday that the team also will interview Los Angeles Clippers associated coach and offensive hotshot Alvin Gentry.
Gentry last was a head coach with the Phoenix Suns and led the team to the Western Conference finals in 2010, where they lost to the Lakers. He has an interview with general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president Jim Buss on Wednesday to talk about replacing Mike D'Antoni, according to several NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, the Times reported.
Gentry was a former assistant under D'Antoni in Phoenix, whom he replaced with D'Antoni went to coach the New York Knicks. That makes the Lakers' pursuit a bit puzzling. The Times reported that the Lakers became interested when they had several head coaches vouch for his offensive philosophy.
Jim Buss' job is on the line with the next Lakers hire
He served as offensive coach for the Clippers in 2013-14, leading the team to a league-best 107.9 points per game. The Clippers also were second in the league in assists at 23.8 per game and third in field-goal percentage at 47.4 percent.
Hollins, meanwhile, is known for his strong defensive philosophy, one that led the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record during the 2012-13 season and an appearance in the Western Conference finals. According to Yahoo! Sports, his five-year tenure with the Grizzlies ended because of his strained relationship with the franchise's then-CEO Jason Levien, who himself has since been deposed.
The Lakers already have interviewed former Lakers coach Mike Dunleavy and former Lakers player Byron Scott. Scott may be the sentimental favorite, but Hollins has the most recent record of success.
None of the candidates have the cache of a Phil Jackson, but because he's not available as he is running the New York Knicks franchise, the Lakers need someone to guide the rebuilding efforts with an aging Kobe Bryant.
Which of the four coaching candidates linked to the Lakers has the best chance of returning the franchise to prominence? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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