Lakers will have lots of choices for new coach to replace Byron Scott

The Lakers are now in the process of searching for a head coach in the wake of having fired Byron Scott on Sunday night.

Here are five intriguing names the Lakers may be interested in talking to over the next few days, weeks and months about their opening.

LUKE WALTON

Walton is the most sexy name out there because he was so popular when he played for the Lakers, winning two NBA championships in 2009-10.

He helped himself immensely as one of the league’s bright coaches when he took over as interim coach when Golden State’s Steve Kerr was out recovering from back issues.

All Walton did was lead the Warriors to a 24-0 start that was extended to a 39-4 record before he turned the team back over to Kerr. (All the wins went to Kerr, however).

Walton has been an assistant coach for just two years, but he was on the Warriors squad that won the 2016 NBA championship.

The question becomes would Walton want to leave the Warriors to come to the Lakers.

JEFF VAN GUNDY

Van Gundy, the ABC/ESPN game analyst, is a name that always comes up when there is an opening.

He has a 430-318 record over the 11 years he coached the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.

Van Gundy still is considered one of the top basketball minds in the game and works hard at his craft.

He has coached stars like Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming and is a known name who is very good with the media.

JEFF HORNACEK

Hornacek did a very good job with the Phoenix Suns his first two years there, finishing in third place in the Pacific Division.

But because of injuries and poor play, he was fired by the Suns on Feb. 1.

Hornacek had a 101-112 record in his two-plus seasons with the Suns.

He was very good at developing his guard core, something that should interest the Lakers because of rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell.

ETTORE MESSINA

Messina is an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, but he spent the 2011-12 season as a coaching consultant with the Lakers.

Messina, 56, was one of the most successful coaches in Europe.

He won four Europleague championships, and he was named the coach of the year in 2006 and 2008.

Messina was named the Italian League’s best coach three times, in 1998, 2001 and 2005.

He is known to be creative with his offense.

KEVIN OLLIE

After leading the University of Connecticut to the 2014 NCAA championship, Ollie became an intriguing name in NBA coaching circles.

A local product who attended Crenshaw High, Ollie knows about the history of the Lakers.

He played 13 seasons in the NBA, his last being in 2009-10 with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Ollie was a teammate of one free-agent-to-be Kevin Durant, who said he admired Ollie when they were teammates.

He’s under contract with Connecticut, but Ollie may be interested in the Lakers job.

Twitter: @BA_Turner

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