Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders believes contract length may be the sticking point.
For weeks, it has appeared as though the Lakers could make Scott's hiring official, but for whatever reason, that hasn't happened. Aside from haggling over contract length, another reason for the delay could be that the team is waiting for someone they hold in higher regard to come along.
Could that someone be the man currently in charge of the Lakers' Staples Center rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers?
ESPN's Bill Simmons thinks so. While appearing as a guest on ESPN LA Now, Simmons said (h/t MassLive.com's Jay King): "Another conspiracy theory that I don't think is even a conspiracy theory, this is clearly why the Lakers were waiting (and) not hiring a coach: Because they must feel like they have a chance with Doc Rivers if (the Donald Sterling ownership battle) keeps dragging on."
(You can listen to the interview here, the segment happens six minutes into the podcast.)
Doc Rivers is contractually obligated to the Clippers for now, but rumors swirled, per ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne, that he may step down if disgraced owner Donald Sterling remains in control of the team heading into next season.
Even with that possibility floating around, Mark Medina of Inside SoCal says sources tell him the Lakers aren't waiting on Rivers.
Medina writes:
Amid all the unanswered questions who the Lakers will hire as their next head coach and when, two team sources strongly disputed that any delay stems from waiting out to see if Clippers coach Doc Rivers will become available because of embattled owner Donald Sterling prolonging a costly li...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
