7 Dream Candidates for Los Angeles Lakers to Replace Mike D’Antoni

If Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni's seat was any hotter, the fire marshal might be forced to close the Staples Center.

"On a scale of New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson to an infant car-surfing on the German Autobahn, D'Antoni's job security falls somewhere in between," Bleacher Report's Dan Favale wrote.

An ill-fitting roster and a nasty attack by the injury bug has limited how much the coach can do, but the court of public opinion doesn't hand out free passes. The mob has already spoken on the fate of Magic Mike.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said on First Take that a source told him "D'Antoni is gone at the end of the season," via Lakers Nation's Corey Hansford. Sources told Sporting News' Sean Deveney that Kobe Bryant has "no interest" in spending another season in D'Antoni's system.

The coach has one more guaranteed year left on his contract, but even that might not save him. ESPN L.A.'s Dave McMenamin has heard the Lakers are "leaning toward" cutting ties with the coach rather than bringing him back for next season.

At some point, D'Antoni's official walking papers are coming. After fumbling their last two coaching searches, the Lakers can't afford another misstep.

Luckily, there are some intriguing NBA coaching veterans who are looking for work, as well as some expert minds from the college game who could be ready for a new challenge.

Getting away from this D'Antoni nightmare won't be easy. But these seven dream candidates could help this franchise finds its way back to relevance.

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