National Basketball Association

Report: Lakers to reach out to ex-Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins

Published May. 25, 2014 2:13 p.m. ET

foxsports

In 2013, during his last NBA head-coaching stint, Lionel Hollins took his team to the Western Conference finals.

The Lakers, apparently, may be hoping to capture some of that magic for themselves.

Team management is set to interview the former Memphis Grizzlies coach this week regarding the head-coaching vacancy in Los Angeles, according to FOX Sports 1/Yahoo NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Under Hollins, the franchise won 56 games in 2013, but that apparently wasn't enough to save his job.

The Lakers are coming off a disaster of a year (27-55, dead last in their division). Coach Mike D'Antoni resigned after the season ended, and the team already reportedly has met with former NBA head-coaching stalwart Mike Dunleavy Sr. about the job.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the Lakers plan to take their time in the search, but that they have their eyes on well-known coaching names. Per the Times:

Before making a decision, the Lakers will talk to several candidates, including veterans George Karl and Jeff Van Gundy; former Lakers players Byron Scott and Kurt Rambis; and some college coaches, including Roy Williams. They have talked informally with some of them already.

"We have a player on our team right now (star Kobe Bryant) who's proven in this league offensively who can score," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told the Times. "That certainly is a consideration. We have to make sure that whoever we hire as a coach can really get the most productivity out of him, whether it's scoring the ball or playmaking or the threat that he may score. That's probably of primary importance right now."