For most of the season, it has been assumed Mike D'Antoni would be fired at the end of the NBA year. The Los Angeles Lakers are hanging at the bottom of the Western Conference thanks to a season riddled by injuries and poor play. Someone has to take the fall and many have predicted D'Antoni will be the first to go. However, could the Lakers be thinking something different than every other NBA expert?
Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report is reporting that the Lakers are appearing more inclined to retain D'Antoni rather than fired him early. D'Antoni signed a three-year, $12 million deal back in 2012 and currently has one year remaining on the contract. Financially, the Lakers see it more beneficial to retain the head coach for the duration of his contract, rather than fire him and eat the money. Los Angeles has to pay D'Antoni no matter what. After signing Kobe Bryant to a marquee two-year, $48 million deal, the team does not have the money to bring in someone new.
Retaining D'Antoni certainly will not make either Bryant or Pau Gasol thrilled as both have spoken out against the head coach. According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, Bryant has no interest in playing for D'Antoni next season because he wants to contend immediately. Bryant has spoken out about the state of the Lakers saying the team needs a makeover in all areas, including the coaching staff. Bryant is not headed anywhere, so if D'Antoni the one forced out?
Gasol has also been vocal about his disdain for D'Antoni, but considering the center is likely not returning in 2014, his opinion means less. Gasol and D'Antoni have had their run-ins this season as the center does not like the head coach's love of small ball. They have both publically criticized one another to the media. If Gasol's opinion enough to sway the Lakers to firing the head coach?
D'Antoni continues to talk like he will be around next season. The head coach has already announced the team's intentions of keeping point guard Steve Nash and Kendall Marshall. He also talked about the possibility of making a few trades and acquiring at least one big name. The question remains if he will actually be around to make those decisions. While it does make sense to keep D'Antoni because of money, the Lakers might have a hard time attracting players with the head coach still in place.
