The Lakers coaching search is underway and the team has already interviewed Mike Dunleavy and Byron Scott. GM Mitch Kupchak has said multiple times that Kobe will not help pick the next coach but he does acknowledge that next man in charge in LA will need to know how to utilize the Black Mamba:
“We have a player on our team right now who’s proven in this league offensively who can score. That certainly is a consideration,” Kupchak said. “We have to make sure that whoever we hire as a coach can really get the most productivity out of him, whether it’s scoring the ball or playmaking or the threat that he may score. That’s probably of primary importance right now.”
“I think you’ll see a lot of him posting up. I think you’ll see the ball in his hands making plays. I think Kobe knows where on the court he’ll be most effective.”
If Kupchak is admitting that it’s important for the next coach and Kobe to work well together, why don’t they just include him in th hiring process? They are paying him $48M over the next two seasons so they might as well get his input. Of course Mitch is absolutely right though and Kobe and whoever they hire must be on the same page to get the Lakers ship righted.