D’Antoni was with the Lakers just two years, going 67-87 in that time. His resignation means the Lakers will have their fourth coach in a little more than three years.
“Given the circumstances, I don’t know that anybody could have done a better job than Mike did the past two seasons,” said Kupchak. “On behalf of the Lakers, we thank Mike for the work ethic, professionalism and positive attitude that he brought to the team every day. We wish him the best of luck.”
It was reported the Lakers and D’Antoni have been discussing his future with the team ever since the end of the regular season; D’Antoni wanted a team option that would allow him to coach out the final year of his contract uninterrupted in regards to questioning his job status; the Lakers weren’t willing to budge.
The Lakers and D’Antoni agreed on a settlement that will pay the former coach more than half of the $4 million he was due next year, according to an ESPN source.
No timetable has been established but the search for a replacement will begin immediately.
D’Antoni’s agent, Warren LeGarie, told ESPNLosAngeles.com that his client and the Lakers “hit an insurmountable impasse” and that “Mike will no longer be the Laker coach.”
The Lakers will begin a coaching search, but a source tells ESPN.com that their immediate focus is on the NBA draft, where they will have at least a top-nine pick, and free agency, where they have enough salary-cap flexibility to sign a maximum-contract level free agent.
Of course the onus can’t all fall on D’Antoni for the epic failure of the franchise the past two years. Owner Jim Buss and Kupchack decided to trade for Dwight Howard two years ago, who at the time was coming off back surgery and was hesitant to play in Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant in the first place. Not only did the trade happen simply because the NBA rejected a trade for Chris Paul, but Howard skipped for Houston just a year later with the Lakers getting nothing in return. They also decided to sign a 38-year-old Steve Nash to a two year contract. Toss in two catastrophic Kobe injuries, and everything spelled a recipe for disaster.
Nash and Bryant are the only two stars under contract next season, and I don’t need to mention again how well that relationship has played out.
Still, Magic Johnson didn’t hold back in regards to the news. .
Happy days are here again! Mike D’Antoni resigns as the Lakers coach. I couldn’t be happier!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 1, 2014
You can be sure Kobe is celebrating the same sentiments.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports. @JHelmuth – “Like” on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
