Had Byron Scott been fired last May instead of today, he'd certainly be in a better financial position, as Scott would have been highly sought-after by at least a few teams, Sacramento and Minnesota among them. As it stands, Scott has no contract for the 2010-11 season ... and few leads for decent gigs.Not that either Sacramento or Minnesota are glamorous jobs, but they were rebuilding teams with low expectations, much like the Hornets were when Scott first came to New Orleans. This summer? I imagine the Nets job will be available, but that bridge has been ashes for ages. The Pacers and Grizzlies will be the other most likely openings, barring a surprise retirement from Jerry Sloan, Don Nelson or Larry Brown.
But there's one job Scott has always been tied to that could also become available and happens to be pretty plush: the one currently filled by Phil Jackson.
That Lakers job now enters the picture as Scott's best prospect by far. A year ago, Scott told the Los Angeles Times he holds the Lakers organization in the utmost regard, and thinks about coaching the team "often." While Jackson seemed to simultaneously groom in-house assistants Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw, Scott would certainly be a top-tier candidate from the outside if Phil were to retire.
And now, one hurdle has fallen: Scott has no other great option, nor a paying job. Jackson is in Sloan mode, judging whether he can handle another grinding season on the fly. He's paid $12 million this season, and has talked about wrapping up his career. Having won his 10th title -- and passing Red Auerbach on the championship coaching list -- would seem to provide some sort of shove off to the ranch.
Of course, Rambis thought enough of either Jackson's continued passion for coaching or the organization's love of Shaw (or some combination of the two) to take his chances in Minneapolis. I suppose over the next nine months we'll see how Scott fits into that equation, and whether Shaw should take the next head coaching job he's offered.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
This is a ridiculous article, based on 100% fan speculation. B. Scott BACK to the Nets, after being fired in ’04? Please. Even though the Nets are at rock-bottom, they’d never consider for a minute re-hiring Scott to replace Lawrence Frank, even though both coaches are basically the same guy: 2 high-school level head coaches and pseudo-disciplinarians who talk the talk but can’t coach more than a season before their fraudulence shows through; both are really assistant coaches with a head coach’s salary.
And as for the Lakers bit, do you really think Jerry Buss and Kupchak would let Byron anywhere near the practice floor with the current squad – let alone if they repeat as champs this season? Hells no! He might get a “consultant” job with LA, but he ain’t coaching ‘em. Hell, Rambis will go back to LA and take over for Phil before B. Scott gets a shot. Anyway, we’ll have to see what happens, but I’m pretty sure it won’t go down the way it was written in the article, trust me.
i am hoping - The General Avery Johnson gets the job, he is a very good coach! Come over Avery!!!
jbourneid101
You are so right having B Scott coach the Lakers would be a joke ,The only coaching position he is qualified for and would be offered is with a team that is rebuilding, never a championship team
Everyone is a critic and got a lot to say about B. Scott. How many other coaches have coached the NJ Nets to an Eastern Conference Championship..oh yeah in back to back years. Byron Scott always seems to take lemons and make lemonade and then someone comes along and steals his lemonade stand.
Byron Scott is one of the most underrated coaches in any sport.
Byron Scott is an excellent coach. He built the team to be a major contender and now, management wants to take over with the former fired coach in tow. You figure how smart this is. I believe management screwed over Byron quite well. Maybe they did not get along and management had the okay to pull the rug from under Byron.