Brian Shaw near deal to return to Lakers as team's top assistant coach
Brian Shaw is nearing a deal that will bring him back to Los Angeles as the Lakers’ lead assistant coach, this time on Luke Walton’s staff.
Multiple sources confirmed to the Southern California News Group that a reunion between the sides is “very close.” The Los Angeles Times first reported the pending agreement.
Shaw served as a Lakers assistant from 2005-11 under Phil Jackson, but was passed over for the head coaching position in favor of Mike Brown when Jackson retired in 2011. He went on to spend two years as an assistant to Coach Frank Vogel in Indiana for two seasons, and later amassed a 56-85 record as a head coach with the Denver Nuggets from 2013-15.
Last week, Shaw told SCNG that he “had options" that included an offer to join Walton.
Shaw was rumored to be a candidate to return to Indiana with new coach Nate McMillan, as well as Orlando, where Vogel was recently hired to replace Scott Skiles.
Shaw also seemed interested in the opening on the Golden State Warriors staff that will be created by Walton’s departure at the end of the playoffs. He was Walton’s top choice for the lead spot, but kept his options open as long as he could.
Walton will finish the season with the Golden State Warriors, who are tied 1-1 with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the best-of-7 Western Conference finals. Hiring Shaw could give Walton a proxy in Los Angeles until he can officially step into his new role.
Shaw, 50, will give the Lakers a veteran coaching presence on the bench. He won three championships with the Lakers as a player from 2000-03, and two as an assistant coach with the 2009 and 2010 Lakers teams on which Walton played.
The rest of Walton’s coaching staff remains a mystery. He may look to other coaches with Lakers ties, or attempt to lure fellow members of Steve Kerr’s Golden State staff to L.A.
It is unclear if anyone from Byron Scott’s staff will be retained.
This post was edited by Monkeykid on May 22 2016 03:03pm