Early Monday morning, the Los Angeles Lakerssurprisingly announced the hiring of Mike D'Antoni as their next head coach. While people outside of those with knowledge of the Lakers front office may see the decision to pick D'Antoni as a slight shock, Phil Jackson was just as stunned as all of us. That is because, according to Jackson, he had established an agreement with the franchise's owner Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak, which gave The Zen Master until Monday to decide whether or not to take the job.
Saturday morning, Jim Buss, called to ask if he could come and visit,” Jackson said in a prepared statement released on Monday evening.
At this point, it doesn't really matter if Phil said yes or no. However, Jackson's agent, Todd Musburger, is still very fuming over the way Buss, Kupchak and the rest of the Lakers front office left Phil high and dry while also defaming The Zen Master's name.
Phil's agent, Todd Musburger tells ESPNLA: "Don't say you've got until Monday, then roust him at midnight to say, We hired somebody else.'
Phil's agent: "He's a good faith person and he was dealt with poorly. It is indicative of the shabby way that organization is being run"
Phil's agent: "To say that he wanted control or that he wanted a zillion dollars or that he wanted equity, those were not topics discussed"
Phil's agent: "Phil brought nothing but trophies to their bookcase and value to the franchise. He deserved to be dealt w/ honestly"
Have the failures of LeBron James' "The Decision" taught anybody, anything?
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[via Pro Basketball Talk]
