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Phil Jackson might soon decide about his future
Phil Jackson is trying to set up a meeting with the Lakers' Kobe Bryant — as early as this week — and he hopes to make a decision about his future before the start of the NBA Finals, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.
The Daily News cited unnamed sources in the report, and called the potential meeting "critical," despite owner Jerry Buss's assertion that Bryant would not be involved in the decision-making process behind the hiring of a new coach — although Buss did say the team would consult its star player.
It is thought that if Jackson and Bryant can reach an understanding about working together, Jackson could be close to returning as the Lakers' coach. If not, it is possible that Jackson could rejoin the team in a front-office role.
Whether Jackson would return as a vice president or a consultant is not known. The Lakers, however, offered a front-office job to Jackson last summer after he was not retained as head coach. But Jackson did not accept the position.
The Lakers have been looking for a permanent head coach since Rudy Tomjanovich unexpectedly resigned at midseason, leaving Frank Hamblen to coach the team, which did not make the playoffs.
Jackson and the Lakers parted ways after the team floundered last year vs. the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. And many felt Bryant played a considerable role in pushing the Zen Master out the door — which Bryant has publicly denied.
Jackson wrote a tell-all book after the season in which he called Bryant, among other things, a selfish player. What's more Jackson wrote about attempting to get Bryant traded because their relationship was so strained.
However, since the book was published, Jackson has been a bit more conciliatory towards Bryant.
If Bryant and Jackson can mend fences, two more factors could complicate Jackson' return to the Lakers' bench: He is the boyfriend to Jeanie Buss, the team's executive vice president of business operations.
And Jackson is expected to demand at least $10 million per season — a potential sticking point for Jerry Buss, who may not want to pay his next coach that much with the league facing a potential lockout as a result of the pending expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement.
Source: AP
The Daily News cited unnamed sources in the report, and called the potential meeting "critical," despite owner Jerry Buss's assertion that Bryant would not be involved in the decision-making process behind the hiring of a new coach — although Buss did say the team would consult its star player.
It is thought that if Jackson and Bryant can reach an understanding about working together, Jackson could be close to returning as the Lakers' coach. If not, it is possible that Jackson could rejoin the team in a front-office role.
Whether Jackson would return as a vice president or a consultant is not known. The Lakers, however, offered a front-office job to Jackson last summer after he was not retained as head coach. But Jackson did not accept the position.
The Lakers have been looking for a permanent head coach since Rudy Tomjanovich unexpectedly resigned at midseason, leaving Frank Hamblen to coach the team, which did not make the playoffs.
Jackson and the Lakers parted ways after the team floundered last year vs. the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. And many felt Bryant played a considerable role in pushing the Zen Master out the door — which Bryant has publicly denied.
Jackson wrote a tell-all book after the season in which he called Bryant, among other things, a selfish player. What's more Jackson wrote about attempting to get Bryant traded because their relationship was so strained.
However, since the book was published, Jackson has been a bit more conciliatory towards Bryant.
If Bryant and Jackson can mend fences, two more factors could complicate Jackson' return to the Lakers' bench: He is the boyfriend to Jeanie Buss, the team's executive vice president of business operations.
And Jackson is expected to demand at least $10 million per season — a potential sticking point for Jerry Buss, who may not want to pay his next coach that much with the league facing a potential lockout as a result of the pending expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement.
Source: AP
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