KEY POINTS

  • Lamar Odom thinks the Lakers can restore order if they bring Phil Jackson back
  • Odom points out how injuries contributed to the Lakers’ downfall
  • He feels Jackson may hold the key to keeping LeBron James longer in Los Angeles 

The Los Angeles Lakers will have to figure out how to get the team back on track this summer.

After a disappointing season that saw the franchise miss the playoffs, the first order of business for the Lakers is to find a new head coach to replace the recently-dismissed Frank Vogel.

There have been several names mentioned who could succeed Vogel. Among the names mentioned include Mark Jackson and Quin Snyder.

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, LeBron James is allegedly excited about the idea of having Jackson as the Lakers' next head coach.

However, this does not mean that it will happen.

As for Snyder, someone who had a previous stint with the Lakers as one of former coach Mike Brown’s assistants, he has reportedly become less interested in the job because of how the Vogel firing was handled, the Los Angeles Times reported.

But aside from Jackson and Snyder, former Lakers player Lamar Odom suggests an interesting name to coach the team next season–Phil Jackson.

The two-time NBA champion feels that bringing back Jackson and his triangle offense can not only boost the Lakers' title drive next year but also keep James a little longer in Hollywood.

"Phil Jackson, I know can coach LeBron with the triangle offense," Odom told TMZ. "I think that would keep [LeBron] around a little longer. Preserve him a little longer."

If it does happen, the 2011 NBA Sixth Man of the Year awardee is confident that the Lakers will win the NBA championship next year.

"If he was to come back and coach the Lakers, I think the Lakers would be the pick--the fan-favorite," the 42-year-old cager stated.

In the same report, Odom singled out the other problems the Lakers had to deal with.

"They needed more time," he explained. "Anthony Davis missed damn near half the year. They just needed time together to bond, but they'll be back next year."

Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson retired as the Los Angeles Lakers head coach in 2011. Reuters