Last night the Lakers announced that Mike D’Antoni resigned as the Lakers head coach. Most were happy about it — he coached the Lakers to a 27-55 record this season, the worst 82-game mark in franchise history. We haven’t heard from Kobe yet, but Magic Johnson was quick to share his happiness on Twitter. Check out what happened…
Via ESPN:
he Lakers and D’Antoni have been discussing his future with the team since the season ended, multiple sources told ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne. Last week he asked them to pick up the team option on the final year of his contract in order to empower him to coach the team without constant speculation about his job status.
But, sources said, when the Lakers said they were unwilling to do that, the team and his representatives began working out a solution that was amenable to everyone. The Lakers and D’Antoni agreed on a settlement that will pay him more than half of the $4 million he was owed for next season, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
The settlement also includes a provision in which the Lakers would recoup some of the money if D’Antoni lands another job this year, another source said.
…
D’Antoni’s agent, Warren LeGarie, told ESPNLosAngeles.com that his client and the Lakers “hit an insurmountable impasse” and that “Mike will no longer be the Laker coach.”
…
Lakers great Magic Johnson, who was sharply critical of D’Antoni’s coaching style, hailed the news on his Twitter account.
