Scott to Lakers unlikely

CLEVELAND -- Everyone expected Lakers assistant Brian Shaw to slide into Phil Jackson's job as head coach following the season. Then L.A. tanked in the playoffs, and suddenly, everything seems to have changed.

That's where Cavaliers coach Byron Scott enters the picture.

Scott is a member of the Lakers family, a standout guard on those Magic Johnson-led Showtime teams of the 1980s. Scott is also from Los Angeles, where he played his high school ball. He left for L.A. to visit family shortly after the Cavs' season.

If you're the Lakers, Scott as your next coach might make sense. He's the former NBA coach of the year (2007-08 with New Orleans), young enough (49), and understands and deeply appreciates the franchise's winning tradition.

He is a hard-nosed leader and fan- and media-friendly, making him perfect for just about any job. Those traits are especially appealing to a large-market organization that's constantly in the national spotlight.

There have already been reports Scott will be considered for the Lakers opening, and they are likely true. He would certainly be interested and you couldn't blame him. For a long time, the Lakers were his life.

But there are other things to consider.

For one, he's under contract with the Cavs. In order for the Lakers to hire Scott, they would have to provide some sort of compensation in return -- such as draft picks, cash and maybe players. Plus, Scott might be a tough sell since he's coming off a 19-63 season.

In other words, there would definitely be easier hires. Shaw is the first, most obvious name. Rick Adelman is also available after parting ways with Houston. Larry Brown, Jeff Van Gundy and Jerry Sloan are out there, too. And considering the Lakers' history of hiring stop-gap coaches to fill in for a year or two, don't be surprised if Minnesota's Kurt Rambis is mentioned.

Perhaps the most intriguing potential candidate is Boston's Doc Rivers. The Celtics appear to be on their way down and Rivers' contract ends after the season. But Rivers has indicated he would like to take a year off to watch his son Austin play next season at Duke.

Mostly, all of this is pure speculation, as Jackson hasn't even officially announced his retirement.

So would Scott be interested if the Lakers made overtures? You had better believe it, and again, you should understand why. He has a powerful bond with both the city and team.

But the real bottom line is Scott is a long shot for the L.A. job this summer. Three or four years from now would be more realistic.

Today, Scott seems likely to stick with the Cavs, finishing the job he was brought in to do by helping return the team to playoff contention. And knowing Scott, he'll be thrilled to do it.

Other coaching news

Former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown is expected to interview for the open Golden State position, according to several reports.

The Warriors are also said to be targeting Shaw, Boston assistant Lawrence Frank and Dallas assistant Dwane Casey.

There is talk the Warriors may not hire a coach until after the June 23 draft. They recently underwent an ownership change, and new co-owner Joe Lacoby is vacationing in Africa. He isn't due back until next week's draft lottery. Lacoby and Warriors executive VP of basketball operations Larry Riley are heading the search.

As an aside, Brown may also interview with Indiana. The Pacers just announced Larry Bird will return as team president, and their hunt is expected to begin immediately. Bird has said interim coach Frank Vogel will receive "the first and last" interviews.

Follow Sam Amico on Twitter @SamAmicoFSO