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bluehenbillk wrote:Without looking it up I wonder what the NBA record is/was for fewest # of games into the season before firing your coach.

AZGrizFan wrote:Oh, and what's the over-under on Phil coming back, now that he might be able to win another ring?

The team will, however, immediately begin a coaching search. Among those they will have to consider, the source said, are former Lakers and Bulls coach Phil Jackson, former Knicks and Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, longtime Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, former Blazers coach Nate McMillan and ex-Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy.

bluehenbillk wrote:Yep, just heard, earliest firing in NBA history.

AZGrizFan wrote:Oh, and what's the over-under on Phil coming back, now that he might be able to win another ring?

When Phil Jackson met with Los Angeles Lakers executive vice president Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak on Saturday, he asked for travel restrictions, a salary in line with what he previously earned with the Lakers and significantly more say over basketball decisions, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

The travel restrictions would limit the number of road games Jackson would have to attend, a source told ESPN.

While Jackson clearly remains the Lakers' top target, the meeting ended without an agreement and the group agreed to talk again in "a couple days," sources told ESPN.

The Lakers had a phone interview Saturday with former Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni, a source told ESPN. According to the source, the interview went very well, "except it still feels like it's Phil's job to lose."

In the meantime, the Lakers will interview former Los Angeles Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, a source told ESPN.

Still, Jackson remains their focus. Almost immediately after firing Mike Brown on Friday morning, the Lakers zeroed in on Jackson who has won 11 NBA championships, including five with the Lakers. If he is amenable to a return under the right conditions, it likely would be on a two-year deal, sources told ESPN.

A source close to Jackson told ESPN on Saturday: "I can't imagine this not working out. Phil's health is fine now. That's no issue at all. Phil's feisty. He gets feisty when he's ready to coach. He likes this Lakers team."

Jackson also has been in touch with potential assistant coaches in the past two days, the source told ESPN.

The name of former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has come up as well, be he said he's not a candidate for the job.

"They won't contact me," Sloan said. "I'm not concerned about that.

"I'm concerned that my name is being thrown out there every time a job is open. It makes me look like I'm desperate. I'm not campaigning for any jobs."

With the Lakers courting Jackson so hard, other potential coaching candidates are wondering what happens if there's no reunion. While refusing to say his client is no longer interested, one representative for one of the top coaches available said the job has gotten less attractive over the past several hours.

"The (contractual) terms would have to be very favorable for whoever they hire if it doesn't work out with Phil," the representative told ESPN. "Because you're going to have to weather the initial storm, the initial storm of disappointment on the part of the fans."

Jackson walked away from the game after the Lakers were swept out of the second round of the playoffs in 2010-11.

In his final news conference, Jackson noted that he didn't have much of a relationship with Jim Buss.

People took that the wrong way," one source told ESPN. "There's no ill will between Jim and Phil."

Jackson, 67, took last season off to avoid the frustration associated with a lockout-shortened season and to improve his health. Jackson, who underwent knee replacement surgery in March, is "getting better and better," according to a source familiar with the rehabilitation process.

SDHornet wrote:Wow, so Phil can be HC and not even have to go to all road games?!? Interesting.

SuperHornet wrote:

SDHornet wrote:Wow, so Phil can be HC and not even have to go to all road games?!? Interesting.

That's not exactly unprecedented, SD.

See Clemens, Roger....

SuperHornet wrote:He wasn't. But he DID have a similar arrangement late in his career. Or did you forget that?

BlueHen86 wrote:

SuperHornet wrote:He wasn't. But he DID have a similar arrangement late in his career. Or did you forget that?

Big difference between a player that plays every five games and a coach who coaches every game. Or do you understand that?

SuperHornet wrote:

BlueHen86 wrote:
Big difference between a player that plays every five games and a coach who coaches every game. Or do you understand that?

Not so big a difference, 86. A player (ANY player) has the potential for entering any game at which he is actually present. For starting pitchers, that CAN mean an unscheduled trip to the pen (especially if there's an early injury to another starter or if the game goes to some SERIOUS extra innings), more often it's a PH/PR appearance (PR especially). A player HAS to be available. My point, of course, is that as much as I liked Clemens, I did NOT like that arrangement at all. And I'll like it even less for Jackson.

SuperHornet wrote:Some pitchers are a bit more prolific than that, 86. Ruth, Ruffing, Hershiser, and Owings all come to mind....