Rumors Swirl Over New Coach and Possible Trades for the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have had rumors swirling around the franchise over possible trades and a new Head Coach.

While the San Antonio Spurs battle the Oklahoma City Thunder for the right to move on to the NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking for the answers to get back to their winning ways and return to the NBA postseason.

The offseason for Los Angeles should be nothing less than turbulent as they have just completed a dismal regular season and need help on the court as well as on the sidelines with a new head coach.

Rumors have been rampant over what the Lakers will do in the NBA draft and if they will trade for players or sign any of the top name free agents that will come available following the end of the NBA Finals.

One of the biggest names to be mentioned in the same sentence with the Lakers is Carmelo Anthony. Anthony still has to decide if he will re-sign with the New York Knicks or go the free agency route.

Even though his name has appeared a great deal of late about playing with the Lakers, a New York newspaper says the Lakers have space under the salary cap, but are not sure Anthony would be a good fit with veteran Kobe Bryant.

In addition, it may be uncomfortable for Jeanie Buss, the president of the Lakers to steal Anthony away from Phil Jackson from the Knicks who just happens to be Buss’ fiancé

Bryant will be coming off a season ending injury and is not getting any younger. He needs to be paired with a star for his last years with the Lakers, but Anthony loves to have the ball and take control of his team offensively. That could conflict with the playing style and philosophy of Bryant.

Additional news had surfaced of late regarding the Lakers and their search for a head coach.

One name that has appeared often is Derek Fisher. However, Fisher is not the only name being mentioned. Fisher still is one of the top candidates for the job, but management had become more interested of late in hiring a head coach who has coaching experience.

Of course, Fisher’s name will not be scratched off the list but there likely will be others in front of his, on the list.

One name that has surfaced of late is Mike Dunleavy as the head coach for the Lakers. Dunleavy has coached for the Los Angeles Clippers and of course one stint with the Lakers.

Dunleavy did meet with General Manager Mitch Kupchak but not with Buss. Dunleavy does have the experience as a head coach in the league.

Dunleavy is not a stranger to Los Angeles. He was hired as a head coach for the first time in 1990 with the Lakers. He took the Lakers to the NBA Finals that season. From there, Dunleavy then coached the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers.

He was chosen as coach of the year in 1999 while with Portland after the team won 59 games during the regular season.

This is just the beginning of what is expected to be an active and turbulent offseason for the Lakers franchise.