D’Antoni set for exit interview with management on Friday.
Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni could have overseen the last game of his tenure at Staples Center in the win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
D’Antoni is scheduled to have his exit interview with team management on Friday and although he has one year on his contract remaining worth $4m, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has insisted that no decision has been made as they also have an option for the following season.
“The next step will be to sit down with Jim [Buss] and all them and Mitch [Kupchak] at the end of the year and talk things out, see where things are,” D’Antoni said after shootaround Wednesday morning, as reported by ESPN.
However, while Kupchak has called for time to review the situation and make a decision, D’Antoni appeared to be out of the loop and expects talks regarding his future in the coming days.
Guard Nick Young believes that despite not even being given a chance to succeed at the franchise, his coach has done a great job in dealing with all the adversity that they faced this year with various injuries to key players.
The Lakers (28-55) have had the worst season in the 66-year history of the franchise, but D’Antoni rued the absence of Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash in particular for the majority of the season and believes that in a competitive conference, they couldn’t cope.
It remains to be seen whether or not he returns beyond the summer, but the feeling around the franchise is that there will be a great deal of improvement next season if they can get their current stars healthy consistently and benefit in the draft and in free agency.
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