Byron Scott out as coach of Lakers

Byron Scott will not retu for a third season as Lakers coach after his teams won 38 games in his first two seasons at the helm.

The organization opted not to exercise a third-year option on Scott’s contract, the Register leaed.

Scott shepherded the Lakers through the final two seasons of Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career, culminating with Bryant’s 60-point finale on April 13. However, Scott’s methods were poorly received by young coerstones D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle, especially his decision to move Russell and Randle to the bench in December.

The Lakers will look to hire their fourth coach in six seasons, since Phil Jackson retired in 2011, after previous attempts to resurrect the organization’s championship heritage fell flat under Mike Brown, Mike D’Antoni and now Scott.

The move comes nine days after Scott said he remained eager to tackle the challenges facing the rebuilding Lakers, and General Manager Mitch Kupchak said Scott said done “an excellent job under the circumstances he was given.”

Scott was hired in July of 2014 after a months-long search in which he had always been the top candidate.

“As I told you guys from day one and it’s still to this day, this is my dream job,” Scott said two days after the Lakers season ended. “And you want the opportunity to tu it all around. You hope to get that, but you understand the business of basketball.”

In the coaching free agency bonanza, two of the most intriguing candidates are already off the board. Tom Thibodeau was aounced last week as head coach and president of basketball operations in Miesota, while former Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks reportedly agreed to terms to become the head coach in Washington.