The Los Angeles Lakers have issues all over the organization, but the franchise will likely allow the head-coaching problem to persist through the 2015-16 NBA season.
According to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, team sources said Byron Scott still has the support of general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of player personnel Jim Buss.
Medina added that the Lakers plan to evaluate Scott’s future once the current campaign ends, which is probably the best choice.
Currently, Scott is only hurting the future of the team. Instead of using the lost season — Los Angeles is off to a franchise-worst 3-19 start — to develop the Lakers’ next generation, he’s altered lineups seemingly in an effort to not disrespect the fading talent that is Kobe Bryant.
Los Angeles should be allowing D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle to work together as the core of a unit, Scott has sent Russell and Randle to the bench and decided to limit their playing time.
However, hiring someone else to oversee what is already an awful year would be foolish.
The smart thing — dropping Kobe to approximately 20 minutes per game — would be tremendously difficult for a new coach who has no established relationship. Lakers fans want to see their legend, and in a season destined for a 15-67 finish, there’s something to be said for giving the people what they want.
Now, whether Bryant plays zero of 35 minutes doesn’t matter because Los Angeles isn’t headed to the playoffs either way.
But if Scott continues to hurt the future of the team through the remainder of 2015-16 by not putting the young stars in position to develop, he shouldn’t be around for 2016-17.