LA Lakers Fire Head Coach Byron Scott

The Los Angeles Lakers are putting these last two dismal seasons behind them and they will be in full rebuilding mode next year. They made it clear with the firing of head coach, Byron Scott.

According to ESPN.com, sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that Scott, who was 38-126 (.232 win percentage) in two season with the Lakers, was informed by the team’s decision Sunday night during their second meeting of the past week.

Scott’s contract included a team option for next season, the third year of his four year deal, in which the Lakers declined. A team option was also included for the fourth year, in which the Lakers also declined.

The Los Angeles Lakers finished with the NBA’s second-worst record at 17-65, eclipsing its franchise-worst record 21-61, which happened in the season prior.

Scott, whose 454-647 career record, has had success in the NBA as a head coach. He led the Nets to two NBA Finals in his first head-coaching job, and he won the NBA’s Coach of the Year award with the Hornets in 2008. His career began to spiral downward over these last five seasons. He finished last in his division in each of his past five seasons as an NBA head coach. He has also coached the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Scott wasn’t the only Laker head coach who dealt with bad teams in the franchises recent history. Mike Brown and Mike D’Antoni were both fired with in two seasons or less.

Finally now, that the Kobe era is over, and the D’Angelo Russell debacle is behind them, the Lakers are now looking for stability to help this young team grow and hopefully be on its way to a 17th championship.

Sources told ESPN, “Lakers felt they needed a new vision that embraced the current style of wide-open play and outside shooting.” The list of head coach candidates for next season include: Luke Walton, Kevin Ollie, Jay Wright, Roy Williams, Tom Izzo, John Calipari, Ettore Messina, Jeff Van Gundy and David Blatt, sources told Shelburne. According to ESPN, Brian Windhorst, Jeff Hornacek is also expected to be on the Lakers’ list.