NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Eye Byron Scott Exit; Kobe Bryant Wants Luke Walton For D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle

By Mitch de Leon
Byron Scott
Byron Scott and Los Angeles has a history of working out well.  AP

The Los Angeles Lakers have been at the receiving end of jokes as the NBA community collectively stand in awe at how the former champs are flailing this season. The basketball team that once boasted of back to back victories could no longer sustain even just a two-digit lead in games. Moreover, the Los Angeles Lakers have been teeming with pressing matters throughout the NBA season.

One of these issues is the retirement of the great Kobe Bryant. Given the fact that the Black Mamba is a major cornerstone in the Los Angeles Lakers, his exit will leave a gaping hole in the team. Another concern is the overflowing presence of rookies on the basketball team. Sources have disclosed that while stars, such as D'Angelo Russell and Larry Nance Jr, are promising, they are not happy with their current roles in the Los Angeles Lakers roster. Even breakout star Julius Randle is reportedly seeking out of the basketball team due to his diminished role in the hardwood court.

With these issues in mind, the NBA community attempts to untangle the problems. In doing so, a consensus has been reached that one person might be to blame: Byron Scott.

Ever since the start of the NBA season, the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers has been under tremendous pressure. Keeping in mind the contributions of Bryant in the basketball team, Scott refused to bench the Black Mamba. This decision had him criticized for not maximizing his roster. Apart from that, the Los Angeles Lakers head coach had received backlash for keeping Russell on the sidelines and limiting his minutes.

Rumors are now circulating that the Los Angeles Lakers might follow the lead of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks. That is, Scott might meet the same fate as David Blatt and Derek Fisher. With that in mind, a replacement coach is also rumored to be targeted by the Los Angeles Lakers: Luke Walton.

"I'm hearing [Scott]'s gone if Luke Walton wants to come in and take the job next season," said Stephen A. Smith via ESPN. He added, "That if he wants to do that, that obviously they would move beyond the Byron Scott era and bring in Luke Walton."

Walton may be an attractive candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Golden State Warriors assistant coach had been a teammate to Bryant in the glory days of the Roy Hibbert squad.

However, it looks like signing Walton may not be as easy as it seems for the Los Angeles Lakers. Coming from a championship team, the Golden State Warriors, the former interim head coach of Stephen Curry reportedly wants reassurance that quality players will be part of the roster next season. That is, the Los Angeles Lakers must sign promising stars with the basketball team.

"Luke Walton, however, as much as he loves the Lakers and California, may not find that to be an attractive job unless they position themselves to acquire somebody like a Ben Simmons," shared Smith.

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