Per Sam Amick of USA Today Sports, the Lakers are holding up the hiring of their next leader on the sidelines until they know if they can land any of the three big offseason prizes.
Amick writes:
The slow pace of the Lakers' coaching search that began April 30 when Mike D'Antoni resigned has been timed deliberately with the upcoming free agency period in the NBA, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Specifically, the idea that the Lakers could beat the odds and land the likes of the Heat's LeBron James, the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony or any of the other superstars who may be free agents on July 1 has led the Lakers to plod through their process so as to not limit their potential options.
With Kobe Bryant coming back from a slew of injuries and set to turn 36 years old before the start of the season, the Lakers need to grab players who can carry the torch.
Part of that could be accomplished with the team's No. 7 pick in Thursday's draft. Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart looks like an ideal fit as a future mainstay in the purple and gold.
Still, he and others in range at No. 7 are rookies, and these are the Lakers. That means there's a need for marquee names and superstars who are already great players.
Matching Kevin Love with Bryant would give the Mamba and Co. a great chance to be a factor next season. That might cost the team its No. 7 pick, but it would still make sense.
Because Love is just 25, he could be a cornerstone for years to come. In the interview below, he's already referring to the Minnesota Timberwolves as "they," so it seems he has already moved on or at least separated himself from the team.
Jame...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
