One down (Rudy T), more to go(Shaq, Kobe, Malone and Fisher)

ESPN.com news services
LOS ANGELES -- The Lakers finally have a coach. The next step in a summer of change is determining their roster.



Rudy Tomjanovich agreed to coach the Lakers -- a longtime adversary in more ways than one -- following a 34-year relationship with the Rockets.



"We expect that he'll sign a contract and we'll hold a press conference tomorrow to announce it," Lakers spokesman John Black said Friday.



Is Rudy T the right coach for the Lakers?
Yes
No






Tomjanovich succeeds Phil Jackson, who coached the Lakers to three championships in five years. The team announced June 18, three days after losing to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals, that Jackson wouldn't return next season.



Tomjanovich survived one of the scariest moments in NBA history on Dec. 9, 1977, at The Forum in nearby Inglewood when Lakers forward Kermit Washington blindsided him with a devastating punch that sent him crashing to the floor with several shattered facial bones.



Doctors said the injuries were life-threatening, but Tomjanovich returned the following season wearing a protective mask and made one of his five appearances in the NBA All-Star game.



Tomjanovich later filed a civil suit against the Lakers. He was awarded $3.25 million by a jury, but the $2 million settlement was reached before an appeal was heard.



The 55-year-old Tomjanovich coached the Rockets for 12 years before stepping down in May 2003 -- two months after being diagnosed with bladder cancer. He negotiated a settlement of the remaining two years and $12 million left on his coaching contract.



In good health now, he worked as a scout with Houston last season -- his 34th year with the organization he joined in 1970 in San Diego as the second overall selection in the NBA draft.



Tomjanovich guided the Rockets to championships in 1994 and 1995 and was the winningest coach in their history with a 503-397 record.



But they failed to make the playoffs in his last four years there.



He joins an unsettled team -- Kobe Bryant is an unrestricted free agent and Shaquille O'Neal has demanded a trade. Derek Fisher and Karl Malone also are unrestricted free agents.



Tomjanovich, one of the first candidates interviewed, had to wait as the Lakers discussed the job with Miami Heat president Pat Riley, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and North Carolina coach Roy Williams.



Riley, a winner of 1,110 games in 21 seasons -- the first nine with the Lakers -- said he spoke with Lakers officials but wasn't offered the position.



An offer was made last week to Krzyzewski, who announced Monday he was staying at Duke. Williams told the Lakers last month he wasn't interested in the job.



It's believed Tomjanovich agreed to terms of a five-year contract worth about $30 million -- a deal similar to the one Jackson signed in June 1999.



Black wouldn't comment on contract terms.



The Lakers have reportedly stepped up efforts to trade O'Neal, who has insisted he won't play for them again. A possible destination could be Miami.



Quoting sources, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Thursday the Lakers were considering a deal that would include Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and a first-round Miami draft pick. Caron Butler also has been mentioned. Black refused to comment.


Late Friday, ESPN's Jim Gray reported that it is up to the Heat to agree to a deal involving Odom, Grant and Butler in exchange for O'Neal.


Bryant has met with representatives of the Lakers, Clippers, Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks this week and reportedly could make a decision as soon as this weekend. Free agents can sign contracts beginning July 14.



Calls to the representatives for Bryant and O'Neal weren't returned.


Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

one problem solve, lakers will now have a coach. next move would be try to trade shaq coz even though i want shaq in lakers jersey, he said he wont play again in lakers team.

by trading shaq, kobe will have a big possibility to re-sign with lakers.

Last edited by Micchy_boy on Sun Jul 11, 2004 9:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Seems like Shaq to Miami is a done deal, so I'm guessing Kobe has given the Lakers little reason to doubt that he'll re-sign.

Well- not really...But Lakers do have a hiugher chance of getting the Kobster!

Plus...I like wat Rudy T had to say about Kobe:

Rudy Tomjanovich made it clear that Kobe Bryant will be the focal point of the Los Angeles Lakers' offense -- if the All-Star free agent stays with the team.

``He has already done legendary things on the court,'' Tomjanovich said of Bryant at his first news conference as Lakers coach Saturday. ``I truly believe he has a chance to become the greatest player ever to play the game.''

Bryant has reportedly narrowed his choices to the Lakers or Clippers. Free agents can sign with teams starting at 12:01 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday.

Tomjanovich said a recent telephone conversation with Rob Pelinka, Bryant's agent, went very well. He sent Bryant a video of much of what he's done offensively over the years with players of Bryant's position and ability.

``The players that I have, I'll try to fit them in a system that suits them and develops chemistry,'' Tomjanovich said.

But I guess it's only to make Kobe happy...

But anyhow- He seems like he's a believer too!

Plus...We're gonna have a good lineup next year!

C: Grant
PF: Odum
SF: Butler
SG: Kobe
PG: Payton

We're contenders right away!

Contenders to be knocked out of the playoffs.

I don't see the Lakers being contenders for a title just yet, it's a big man dominated west. Grant isn't the answer to Tim Duncan.

I'm placing my bets on the Spurs.

It'll be fun to watch LA though, an uptempo game. That team looks built to run.

Hmmm, maybe one of those future first round picks turn out to be the next Shaquille O'Neal/Wilt Chamberlain or Hakeem Olajuwan.

What Jackal said, unless Kobe does something spectacular we're losing in the 1rst or 2nd round. We need a big man. Does anyone really think the Lakers are going to contend with that? Even the Bulls had big bodies to put on the big centers. The Lakers have nothing.

as i said in other other. lakers will be a play-off contender but not a title contender this year (if kobe re-sign if not were a lottery team). but definitely will be a great team in the near future.

Any idea if they have any cap space? Perhaps they could get Dampier?

Pff, championship contention > playoff contention.

(Micchy, that sig is way too big, try re-sizing it. )

Any idea if they have any cap space? Perhaps they could get Dampier?

Pff, championship contention > playoff contention.

(Micchy, that sig is way too big, try re-sizing it. )

Without Kobe, they're at about $47 million. With Kobe though, they'd be over the cap...you could possibly get Damp with the full MLE.

The rockets and spurs are probably the dynasties of the future if i had to pick. Lakers go bye bye. If you're gonna get a dream or 7 footer with any skill in future drafts you had better had the #1 pick because the great centres are never picked after the 2 spot and rarely after even 1. Besides their are usually only 2 or 3 every generation. Right now we already have tim duncan, garnett kinda, and maybe yao in the future taking over for shaq, the dream, and the admiral. I dunno if you can consider kg a real big man, so theirs only 1 more left and i doubt miami will suck enough for la to ever luck into it.

Meh, shutup magius.

Man- no matter what reality is...I'll still say:

04 CHAMPIONSHIP BABY! because I believe Kobe will make us win...

BTW...maybe we can draft that asian 7 foot 1 kid in one or two years...scouts call him the next Yao but he's just too weak...but has good shooting/handles (If i remmeber clearly) or we could get Andrew Bogut who is all hyped up by me!

actually, i can see the Lakers getting to the Conf Finals next season. Afterall they do have Kobe, and he's pretty damn good and he's capable of stepping it up. His supporting cast of Odom, Butler and hopefully Payton isn't too bad, however the bench is lacking in any sort of depth.

Conf Finals would be a dream though, kinda like the Knicks making the Finals back in 99.

..

Last edited by hmm on Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

Matt.. these lakers do remind me of the 99 knicks. Kobe does have a fire inside him that could drive them to the conference finals. But they will have to go through either the spurs, twolves, houston or sacramento. also, everyone keeps forgeting about kobes legal trouble like its not there. if he is found guilty (yes, there is a chance) that lakers are going to have one of the 5 worst records in the league. Kobe... i hope he's ready for this. Tmac wasnt...

loving the forced smiles

Reminds me of the Steve Francis pic hehehehe.