Mitch Kupchak Shoots Down Rumor That Lakers Will Pursue Tom Thibodeau This Summer
(CBS) A day after a report indicated the Lakers have interest in pursuing Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, Los Angeles general manager Mitch Kupchak shot down the rumor.
The Lakers are coached by Byron Scott, who has one year remaining on his contract as they go through a rebuilding phase.
"I saw something this morning, and the first thing I said to myself was, 'I'm going to call Byron and let him know that the agents are doing their job and pay no attention (to it),'" Kupchak said on Thursday morning during an interview on AM 570 LA Sports. "Not that I think Byron reads any of that stuff, but someone may call him and say, 'Hey, guess what I just read?'
"Nothing to it. We're incredibly happy with Byron. That's what representatives and agents do. They try to create a marketplace for their guy. I'm not saying that's exactly what happened here, but we're very, very happy with Byron."
On Wednesday evening, Jordan Schultz of the Huffington Post reported that, "The Lakers will be pursuing Tom Thibodeau."
Thibodeau is represented by Creative Artists Agency. It's widely believed around the league that he and the Bulls will part ways sometime this offseason after their relationship deteriorated, in large part over philosophical differences.
Thibodeau has two years and about $9 million left on his deal with Chicago. The Lakers reportedly had interest in meeting with Thibodeau last summer, but nothing came to fruition, and they hired Scott.
Los Angeles then went 21-61, the worst mark in franchise history. They have nabbed the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft.
New Orleans and Orlando have interest in Thibodeau, according to reports.