Scott to coach Lakers

Jul 27, 2014 - 12:37 PM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Byron Scott has agreed to become the new coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, although the team has yet to confirm the deal.

The former Lakers star has agreed to a four-year, $17 million deal to replace Mike D'Antoni in Los Angeles, ESPN.com reported Saturday evening.

"It feels fantastic. This is a dream come true. I always wanted to coach the Lakers, especially when I got to coaching. This is so unreal right now," Scott told KCBS-TV's Jim Hill."

Scott was fired in April 2013 at the end of his third season as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He has also coached the Nets and Hornets since a 14-year playing career that included three NBA title runs with the Lakers in the 1980s.

D'Antoni resigned as Lakers coach in April after one of the worst seasons in franchise history and less than 18 months after he was brought in to replace Mike Brown early in the 2012-13 season.

Kobe Bryant's rookie season came with Scott on the floor in his final NBA season with the Lakers. Now, Scott has a chance to coach Bryant.

"Kobe and I got a great relationship," Scott told Hill. "We've been talking back and forth pretty much throughout this whole summer. I'm excited to have the privilege of coaching a guy like that. This is a future Hall of Famer.

"Not only am I going to be coaching him, but I think he is going to help me as well. I think we see the game very similar. We know on the defensive end, that's where it's going to have to be done first."