Written by: Beck
The L.A. Lakers have
announced their decision for a new coach to replace the departing Phil Jackson. Former Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich will take over the helm for the Lakers. First of all, Rudy T shares in common with John Edwards the palpable fact that he was only the second choice. Before offering the job to Rudy T, they offered the job to Duke's Coach K. In a fantastic display of good taste, Coach K turned them down.
Worse than that, however, is the fact that Tomjanovich is inheriting a gutted team. While he did manage to preside over two championships in Houston, his last four years with the Rockets failed to see a single playoff game. Now he finds himself in command of a team which has been a force in the championships for years, and will likely get to preside over a grizzly and painful rebuilding process. About the only thing Rudy T has going for him is the fact that L.A. doesn't have an aversion to spending money to get good players. I don't know how much good that will do, however, when you have to endure:
Kobe Bryant is an unrestricted free agent and Shaquille O'Neal has demanded a trade. Derek Fisher and Karl Malone are also unrestricted free agents.
I can't help but think that Tomjanovich is walking into a deathtrap. I'd only be more conflicted if somehow Houston wound up signing Kobe Bryant.