Reports Indicating Lakers Will Keep Mike D'Antoni Next Season Are Premature
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Reports indicating that the Los Angeles Lakers have decided to keep Coach Mike D'Antoni next season are premature, according to CBS2 Sports Director Jim Hill.
The front office has yet to have their end of season meeting with D'Antoni and no such decision will be made until after that get-together takes place.
D'Antoni has essentially drawn a line in the sand, saying he wants the Lakers to pick up the option year (2015-2016) on his contract and wants more input on how the Lakers are built, according to sources.
The Lakers feel that there are two other areas to address first: who they select in the draft and who they can get in free agency.
The Lakers have always maintained that D'Antoni is under contract and will remain as the Lakers head coach.
D'Antoni led the Lakers to a 27-55 season—the Lakers' worst record since moving to Los Angeles.
Recently, Pau Gasol continued to express his philosophical differences with D'Antoni and cited it as one of the potential factors in whether or not he'd consider returning to L.A.