Lakers, Brian Shaw closing in on deal for him to become Luke Walton’s top assistant

Brian Shaw and the Lakers are close to an agreement on a deal for him to become Luke Walton’s lead assistant coach, the Los Angeles Times learned Saturday.

Shaw’s experience as a head coach, an assistant coach and as a championship player were the primary reasons why Walton wanted him on his staff, according to several NBA officials who are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Shaw won three championships with the Lakers in 2000, 2001 and 2002, when he played on the Shaquille O’Neal-Kobe Bryant teams.

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Shaw won two more titles with the Lakers as an assistant under head coach Phil Jackson.

Walton was on those two championship teams, in 2009 and 2010, when Shaw was the assistant coach.

Shaw had just a 56-85 record in the almost two seasons he was the head coach of the Denver Nuggets, before he was fired during the 2015 season.

But Shaw was very successful as an assistant with the Lakers and Indiana Pacers.

When he was a Pacers assistant coach, Shaw was credited with helping forward Paul George develop into one of the NBA’s top two-way players, and with helping guard Lance Stephenson become an all-around player.

During his time with the Lakers as an assistant coach, Shaw helped Andrew Bynum turn into a solid starting center, and Lamar Odom flourish into the NBA’s sixth man of the year in 2011.

With Lakers’ young core of D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson (if he re-signs with the Lakers) and Larry Nance Jr., and with the team’s second overall pick in the June 23 NBA draft, Shaw’s ability to communicate and develop young talent should be beneficial to Walton, the players and the team.

Follow Broderick Turner on Twitter @BA_Turner