"This season can still be turned around, and Phil Jackson can make that turnaround happen," says Magic. "He brings in instant credibility and respect."
Beyond Jackson, Mike D'Antoni will get the most attention because of his coaching relationship with Steve Nash in Phoenix, Dwight Howard in the Olympics and Kobe going back to time spent together in Italy.
"Two plus two," says Buss, while conceding D'Antoni's coaching style might have some thinking about the return of Showtime.
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"We're putting together a list now, and I think almost everybody can name the names on it," he says. "But I think it goes without saying we have to find out what Phil is thinking."
Buss says the team's intent now is to hire a replacement "ASAP." A favorable home schedule is sitting there waiting to be exploited as the Lakers try to right themselves.
But what about Brown, as nice a guy as anyone might meet in sports?
"I don't like firing anyone," says Buss.
So was it Kobe's death stare that did in Brown?
"I saw it, but I believed it was aimed at somebody else and not Mike Brown," says Buss. "And I wouldn't call it a death stare; it's just Kobe and he doesn't like losing."
It feels like a panic move; Kobe calls fans "idiots" for panicking earlier and tells the media Thursday when asked about Brown, "I've been his biggest supporter."
And Buss repeats himself. "I told you no player was consulted; it probably came as a shock to Kobe. It was something Mitch, my dad and I have been looking at for some time, and that means practices, preseason games, everything.
"It had nothing to do with the fans or anything else except we just weren't comfortable the way things were going and we want to win. Everyone in the room was unanimous it was time for a change."
Buss says the Lakers' big four will be consulted as part of the due diligence required in hiring a new coach so no one is blindsided by someone they just can't stand.
Can't imagine anyone vetoing Jackson as the team's next coach other than Phil if he has no interest in working again.
"I know people will say that I don't want Phil, but what more can I do than say it's just not true," says Buss. "We're going to do everything we can right now to set this right."
