Mike D'Antoni to Be Named Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers

According to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers will hire Mike D'Antoni as their new head coach. D'Antoni will reportedly sign a four-year deal with the Lakers.

Los Angeles fired Mike Brown on Friday afternoon after he led the newly equipped team to a disappointing 1-4 start. After a weekend of speculation involving numerous candidates, such as Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan and Mike Dunleavy, the front office opted for the former NBA Coach of the Year.

D'Antoni previously coached the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks from 2003 to 2012. He resigned from his head coaching job with the Knicks back in March. D'Antoni holds a 388-339 career record as an NBA head coach.

The fan favorite to take the vacant job, Jackson, was not chosen. According to another report from Bresnahan, Jackson was "asking the moon" in exchange for his services. Though it is not clear, it is presumed the all-time winningest coach wanted more control in terms of basketball decisions.

D'Antoni will be reunited with two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash. He will also reconnect with guard Kobe Bryant and center Dwight Howard. (D'Antoni served as an assistant on the United States men's national basketball team.)

The Lakers are coming off of a 103-90 victory against the Sacramento Kings, finishing off a 2-0 weekend with interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff. Bickerstaff will continue to head the team until D'Antoni joins the Lakers later this week. He is awaiting medial clearance from a recent knee surgery.