Funny how coaches in the final year of their contract always get hit up with stories about how they are in a lame duck season and that the players are beginning to tune them out and not performing. These coaches are always the ones that are on the proverbial hot seat. And then there is Phil Jackson…
There are currently 7 coaches in the final year of their contract:
- Mike Woodson – Atlanta Hawks
- George Karl – Denver Nuggets
- Jim O’Brien – Indiana Pacers
- Phil Jackson – Los Angeles Lakers
- Lawrence Frank – New Jersey Nets
- Byron Scott – New Orleans Hornets
- Jerry Sloan – Utah Jazz
Each of the coaches have question marks surrounding them and their status as to coaching going forward with some in each organization questioning the future of the coach, except Phil Jackson (and to a smaller extent Jerry Sloan). So why is Phil different? For one, the decision to extend his contract or not is not being held by the Laker organization, it is held completely by Phil. If he wants an extension, the Lakers will give it to him. Period. The Lakers want Phil to stay and will do anything to keep him. Remember, part of the reason for signing Ron Artest was to give Phil a challenge for this current season. Phil, however, will probably wait until the end of the season (or close to it), before deciding if he wants to return or not for another year.
So, if Phil does leave at the end of this season, who would replace him? In the next post we will look at possible candidates and their positives and negatives.
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