The New York Knicks officially named Derek Fisher as the team's new head coach, leaving the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers as the remaining teams without a coach this summer.
According to Sam Amick of USA Today, the Lakers are deliberately slowing down the pace of their coaching search as they are more focused on the upcoming free agency period in July.
"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," Amick wrote.
Sources said that the Lakers are targeting big-name free agents like LeBron James of the Miami Heat and Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks, and they are convinced that naming a coach before having the chance to talk to both players will lessen their chances of acquiring either of the two superstars.
"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," Amick wrote.
The Lakers only have three players with guaranteed contracts next season - Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Robert Sacre - that means they might have enough cap space to sign two superstars, who are willing to take a pay cut in hopes of winning an NBA title next season.
Anthony, who has been publicly saying that the chance of winning a title will be the main factor when he makes his decision this summer, will likely become a free agent barring any major changes, while James could also opt out depending on the result of their finals series against the San Antonio Spurs.
"As the Lakers see it, it's not a necessity to have a coach in time for the June 26 draft, in which they'll pick seventh overall. And while they're not willing to let a star player pick the coach, keeping the vacancy open would allow any possible players who sign with them to offer some input into the process," Amick added.
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