Lakers Rumors: Firing Mike D'Antoni Midseason Wouldn't Do the Team Any Good

Despite the injuries and old core, the Los Angeles Lakers have easily been bad enough to warrant Mike D'Antoni's firing. But with just 19 games remaining, it wouldn't positively or negatively impact the next chapter for the franchise.

Ramona Shelburne and Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com agree. The linked report echoes those sentiments. Per Shelburne and McMenamin, management and D'Antoni met about the coach's immediate future after a string of huge losses.

D'Antoni's career winning percentage is just .521. His playoff win percentage is even worse. D'Antoni's teams have only won 44 percent of their postseason games.

To put it plainly, he never should have been hired to begin with.

Take a look at this interview done after the Lakers lost to the rival Los Angeles Clippers by 48 points. It's not hard to see D'Antoni's lame-duck disposition.

Normally, a Lakers coach who had led the team to a 21-42 record would never make it to the end of the season. However, with so much turnover expected for the 2014-15 season, there's no need to look for a future leader before the team has zeroed in on its new sideline leader.

Dumping D'Antoni in favor of an interim coach also seems pointless.

The man appointed to the position would only be a stopgap. The only player he'd likely have any chemistry with that also figures to be included on next year's roster is Kobe Bryant.

The Mamba is still the face of the franchise, but he's hardly played this season and doesn't figure to be part of the team for more than two more years—at the most.

A fresh start is the smartest approach for the offseason.

Dismissing D'Antoni the day after the regular season is done makes the most sense. The team can immediately start its search for the next head coach of the Lake Show. Once D'Antoni's replacement is found, potential free agents will know who they would potentially be playing for.

A new head coach in L.A. is almost a given, but the time for change hasn't arrived just yet.

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