Even when the Los Angeles Lakers were on the verge of trading Shaquille O'Neal, re-signing Kobe Bryant, trading Gary Payton and parting ways with Phil Jackson, there seemed to be less uncertainty surrounding the team than there is today. After a disappointing season in which the Lakers failed to make the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, the franchise nears the 2005 NBA Draft without a head coach.
When it was revealed that Jackson would be on ABC on the pre-game show for the NBA Finals, speculation reached a fevered pitch. Phil was sure to announce his intentions to the national audience.
It was at this point that anyone who could claim to be an inside source had some juicy tidbit predicting exactly what Jackson was going to do.
The actual broadcast revealed little, though Jackson acknowledged that he was giving the Laker first crack at his services. Phil hinted that a decision either way could come within a couple of days. That was last Thursday.
The following list collects many of the various rumors on why the Lakers and Jackson have yet to come to terms. This last week has been a wonderful learning experience. The lesson . . . don't always trust inside information, even if it comes from previously reliable sources, multiple people or even franchise personnel. Note that many of these reasons contradict each other and none should be taken as fact.
1) There is no issue whatsoever. The deal is pending and what seems like a long time for the fans is just standard operating procedure.
2) There is no issue whatsoever. The deal is done but the Lakers don't want to take away attention from the NBA Finals.
3) There is no issue whatsoever. Phil was introduced to the team nearly a month ago as the new head coach. Timing is everything and the Lakers are just building up suspense to entice season ticket holders to renew.
4) There is a major struggle within the organization. Assistant GM Jimmy Buss, expected to be the successor to his father, Dr. Jerry Buss, has begun his transition to power. The Los Angeles Times announced that Jimmy Buss had indeed made an offer to Jackson. Various quotes on record have both Laker executive Jeanie Buss and Laker GM Mitch Kupchak claiming ignorance of such an offer. This was a message that Jimmy is the new boss which could be a holdup as Phil wants to answer directly to Dr. Buss and not his intermediaries. Although Jimmy may one day follow in his father's illustrious footsteps, Jackson wants to be able to override the younger Buss and Laker GM Mitch Kupchak when it comes to personnel and other issues. The Lakers have no interest in Jackson running the show and are holding out. Dr. Buss may not want Phil to return if it undermines the authority of his son.
5) Phil doesn't like the talent on the team and doesn't think they have a chance to win. Why re-sign for five years of mediocrity?
6) Phil wants an ownership stake.
7) Kobe Bryant doesn't want Jackson to return. According to many sources including Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, this was leaked out by Bryant's own agency. Kobe has insisted that he wants nothing to do with the decision. The Lakers have stated that he indeed has no say in the matter of coach. Some say behind the scenes Bryant is fighting for Brian Shaw to coach. Others say the entire matter is ridiculous. There are a number of reasons why the Lakers don't have a coach yet, but Bryant is the obvious target when the public is searching for answers. Sources suggest the SFX agency may have some internal issues regarding the management of their star client. Bryant fans say it's just the anti-Kobe media bias rearing it's ugly head.
8) The Fox network expected Jackson to announce that he was the next coach on the debut of the CMI: Chris Myers Interview. When they learned that Phil was going on ABC to reveal his intentions, the Lakers were caught in a dispute between the Lakers' local and the NBA's national networks. The solution was to hold off a week until the dust settled with neither network getting the exclusive.
9) The Lakers are waiting for the NBA Finals to end to make a run at Larry Brown. Although they may have to give up a first-round draft pick to the Detroit Pistons should he come, the Lakers feel it's worth exploring. Never mind that Brown has some medical issues, Brian Shaw can coach in the interim until Brown takes the helm.
10) The Lakers don't want to pay millions to a coach if there is an NBA lockout.
11) Jackson isn't healthy enough to coach anymore. From arthritis to heart issues, it's time for Phil to retire as an NBA coach altogether.
12) Jackson and the Lakers just have too much dirty laundry. From Phil's book to the Lakers cutting of contract extension negotiations mid-season . . . it's just not a good idea.
What's the truth? Perhaps one day it will come out incontrovertibly. The Lakers seem confident they'll have a coach in place before the upcoming draft.
Despite the various voices claiming they know exactly what's going on behind closed doors, it may be that only a handful of people truly know what's going on . . . Phil Jackson, Dr. Jerry Buss, Jimmy Buss and Mitch Kupchak.
Update: Mike Bresnahan of the The Los Angeles Times quotes "'At this time in his life, [Jackson] wants to make sure he's committed,' Laker assistant general manager Jim Buss said Monday. 'I want him committed for three or four years, if that's what he's going to do. If he isn't, that just shows you the class of the man he is; he's not going to hurt us and put us in a bad position.
'He's promised me he wouldn't do a one-and-out. Rudy Tomjanovich hurt us. It threw us for a loop. We can't have something like that. I understand totally and appreciate that Phil respects our position.'
Buss, son of the Laker owner, said he expects Jackson to reach a decision by the end of the week, 'one way or the other.'
'I think our guy is getting close to a decision,' a team source said. 'There's just a few things left to think about.'"
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