NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Hiring Scott Brooks As Head Coach

NBA rumors are swirling around Scott Brooks. He’s one of the hottest head coaching candidates in basketball. Brooks will definitely get to choose from a couple of teams in the National Basketball Association. Several teams have already expressed interest, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards. According to Bleacher Report, there may be mutual interest between Brooks and the Los Angeles Lakers. The team is evaluating the future of Byron Scott, who had trouble at times connecting with younger players on the roster.

Byron Scott could be joining Kobe Bryant on his way out the door. Los Angeles Lakers management were concerned about him being the right coach to help develop D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle. Those three guys are supposed to be the future of the Lakers. Los Angeles wanted Scott to allow the younger players to learn through their mistakes. Instead, he catered to Bryant, who finally retired from the NBA after two decades as a player.

Scott Brooks has a history of developing young players into NBA superstars. That’s what he did for the Oklahoma City Thunder during his 7 year tenure with the franchise. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are two of the best players in the National Basketball Association. The Los Angeles Lakers would be beyond ecstatic if Brooks can help D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle reach their full potential.

Scott Brooks had a pretty good track record with ball dominant point guards. He showed faith and trust in Russell Westbrook. Brooks allowed him to do what he does best. In return, Westbrook rewarded Brooks with a guard that can take over a game. D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson are both ball dominant guards. Brooks world give the Los Angeles Lakers one of the better back courts in the NBA if he can replicate the success he had with Westbrook.

Julius Randle is no Kevin Durant. He doesn’t need to be. The Los Angeles Lakers need him to be himself. They need Randle to be a versatile big man who can facilitate an offense. That was something he started showing toward the end of the NBA regular season. That’s something that Lakers management will want him to work on this summer. Scott Brooks will need to figure out how to make that happen, as it can be quite the weapon on offense.

One advantage of hiring Scott Brooks is that he maintains a pretty close relationship with Kevin Durant. The Oklahoma City Thunder star becomes a free agent this summer. Just about every NBA team will be targeting him. If Brooks can give the Los Angeles Lakers an edge in that race, then he’ll definitely be worth the money. To go from Kobe Bryant to Durant is not much of a drop off.

While it might seem like a pipe dream for now, Scott Brooks might also be able to lure Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers next summer. He will be a highly coveted free agent, as well. The Oklahoma City Thunder might be enticed to do a sign and trade. Someone like D’Angelo Russell can help their rebuilding phase. Westbrook and Kevin Durant can quickly make the Lakers an NBA title contender again.

If hiring Scott Brooks can help the Los Angeles Lakers acquire Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, then the team will open up the bank vault for him right now. Actually, just being able to acquire one of them would already be considered quite the coup. The fan base is used to being in the NBA Playoffs and luring big name players. Brooks might be able to make that happen.