The Los Angeles Lakers will spend the offseason searching for their next coach after Mike D'Antoni resigned Wednesday night. Among the reported list of candidates are John Calipari, Kevin Ollie, Derek Fisher, Jeff Van Gundy, Byron Scott and Ettore Messina.
The Lakers reportedly want to take their time to find a replacement for D'Antoni, who resigned Wednesday after the team declined to pick up the 2015-16 option in his contract.
"The Los Angeles Lakers plan a drawn-out and exhaustive search to replace coach Mike D'Antoni, but sources close to the process insist that they hope to 'make a splash' with their eventual hire," ESPN's Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne wrote on Thursday.
They also want to see how free agency plays out in the offseason. If a big-name free agent -- such as LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony -- became available, ESPN's sources said the Lakers would be amendable to hiring a coach of his choosing if it sealed the deal.
Still, the Lakers appear to have a lengthy list of coaching candidates they want to speak with.
Two coaches whom the Lakers want to contact about making the leap to the NBA are Kentucky coach John Calipari and Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie, according to ESPN.
Calipari dispelled the first batch of rumors linking him to the Lakers in April. The Kentucky coach, fresh off an NCAA championship defeat, insisted he is happy with the Wildcats and wants to do more than just build a winning franchise.
Ollie's stock improved dramatically when he led the Connecticut Huskies to the 2014 NCAA title.
The successful transition of Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd from player to coach has the Lakers considering Oklahoma City guard and former Laker Derek Fisher, according to ESPN's sources. Fisher plans to retire as a player after the season.
ESPN also reported former Clippers and Lakers coach Mike Dunleavy, ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy, and Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis as possibilities.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported longtime European coach Ettore Messina as another possible choice. Messina reportedly impressed both Lakers management and Kobe Bryant when he worked as an assistant under then-coach Mike Brown.
Wojnarowski also reported the Lakers are considering hiring Ollie.
Lastly, Fox Sports reported the Lakers have Byron Scott on their radar.
