Former Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson wouldn’t be surprised if Phil Jackson returns to the team as head coach.
Jackson coached the Lakers to three NBA titles and led them to four Finals appearances from 1999-2004. After resigning and taking a season off, Jackson has resumed talks with the Lakers about returning to the bench. Johnson said he believes the franchise’s owner, Dr. Jerry Buss, is focused on bringing back Jackson.
“Everybody knows that Phil is the guy we’re looking to,” Johnson, co-owner and vice president of the Lakers, said Friday. “Right now, he and Dr. Buss have to come to an agreement. That’s what Dr. Buss wants and that’s what Phil wants. The (financial) numbers? I think everyone knows the ballpark. I don’t think that will be an issue.
“Now, does Phil really want to come back to coach? That’s what it’s going to come down to.”
Buss has said the decision on the next Lakers coach won’t have anything to do with star Kobe Bryant. Although he has denied it, Bryant has been accused of playing a large role in Jackson not coming back this season.
“I think (Jackson) and Kobe will be able to work it out,” Johnson said. “Of course, if all parties say, ‘I’m ready, I want you, Phil,’ then they’ll be able to work it out. One thing about Kobe, he wants to win. Trust me. He sees that (Nuggets forward) Carmelo (Anthony) went to the playoffs. He sees himself being a superstar in the playoffs. He saw what (Houston’s) Tracy McGrady was able to do.
“So he wants to get back (to the playoffs), and he knows Phil can get him back there.”
Milicic to finally play
After two seasons of sitting on the bench for the Detroit Pistons, forward-center Darko Milicic could finally get a chance to play this summer with his national team, Serbia and Montenegro.
The second pick in the 2003 draft didn’t play for the Pistons during summer league because of contract issues in 2003 and a hand injury in 2004. The 7-foot, 250-pounder has averaged only 1.6 points in 5.8 minutes per game in 71 games in two seasons with the Pistons. While reserve center Elden Campbell will be a free agent, the Pistons are expected to have center Ben Wallace, forward Rasheed Wallace and reserve forward-center Antonio McDyess on the roster next season. Such a scenario limits potential opportunities for Milicic next season.
At the European championships, a qualifying tournament Sept. 16-25 for the 2006 world championships in Japan, Milicic could finally play solid minutes. Milicic will compete with power forwards and centers such as Atlanta’s Predrag Drobnjak and New Jersey’s Nenad Krstic. Pistons president Joe Dumars, vice president John Hammond and international scout Tony Ronzone are expected to watch Milicic play.
“What it will do is give him confidence while playing for his home country when on the floor with bodies and referees and making decisions,” Ronzone said. “It’s a great opportunity.”
Footnotes
Josh Kroenke, son of Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke, is expected to take part in an internship with the Nuggets’ front office next season. Josh, 24, played basketball at Missouri and has completed an internship this year with the NBA in New York. … The Nuggets said last week they don’t expect to get an impact player from their 20th and 22nd picks in this year’s deep draft. Pistons director of scouting George David, whose team has the 26th pick, begs to differ. “The 20-35 picks in this year’s draft are going to make more of an immediate impact than those picks have from the past five years,” David said. “I think our pick, 26, will be a player that can contribute next year.”
