ESPN reported Saturday that the Lakers and Scott agreed on a four-year, $17 million deal. The Lakers hold a team option on the final year of the deal. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Byron Scott said in a television interview that he is the new coach of the Los Angeles Lakers but the team insisted that an agreement has not yet been reached.
ESPN reported Saturday that the Lakers and Scott agreed on a four-year, $17 million deal. The Lakers hold a team option on the final year of the deal.
“It feels fantastic,” Scott told KCBS-TV on Saturday night. “This is a dream come true. I always wanted to coach the Lakers, especially when I got to coaching. It’s so unreal. I have to thank (general manager) Mitch (Kupchak), Jeanie and Jim Buss to give me this opportunity.”
However, the Lakers said nothing is set.
“There is no done deal,” a source told the Los Angeles Times.
Lakers owner Jim Buss reportedly made Scott a verbal offer on Thursday and Scott and his representatives were reviewing it.
Scott, who has coached the New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers, played a key role as a player in helping the Lakers win three of their five NBA championships in the 1980s.
The Lakers have been without a coach since Mike D’Antoni resigned at the end of the regular season. Scott interviewed for the job three times, but the team decided to wait until after the draft in June and free agency this month before making a hire.
Lakers star Kobe Bryant has endorsed hiring Scott. The two were Lakers teammates in 1996 when Bryant was a rookie. As a coach, Scott is 937-416 in the regular season and 33-24 in the playoffs with the Nets (2000-04), Hornets (2004-09) and Cavaliers (2010-13).
