The Los Angeles Lakers have been given permission to speak to Golden State assistant coach Luke Walton over their vacant coaching job.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr on Wednesday confirmed the 36-year-old will be able to hold talks with the Lakers at the conclusion of Golden State's first round playoff series against Houston.
The Warriors lead the series 3-1 ahead of Wednesday's fifth game.
"We told Mitch that he's perfectly welcome to talk to Luke as soon as the series is over and we have a little break," Kerr said of Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak.
Walton, a former Lakers forward, became one of the most coveted coaching prospects in the NBA after leading the Warriors to a 39-4 start this season while Kerr was recovering from back surgery.
Should he join the Lakers, Walton would be reunited with a franchise where he spent the bulk of his playing career and was a member of two NBA title-winning teams.
Walton was also a part of the Warriors staff that last year helped the team capture a first NBA championship since 1975.
The Lakers are looking to rebuild after firing head coach Byron Scott following a franchise-worst 17-65 season and bidding farewell to all-time great Kobe Bryant, who retired earlier this month after a glittering 20-year career in Los Angeles.
Italian San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina is being mentioned by as another possible candidate for the job.
Share
