Lakers offer Byron Scott head coach position, ESPN reports

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles Lakers have offered their head coaching job to Byron Scott, according to ESPN sources. The two sides are still in negotiations.

ESPN reports that the Lakers made Scott a verbal offer on Thursday after Scott spoke with owner Jim Buss.

The head coach position was left vacant after Mike D'Antoni resigned in April.

Scott has received a key endorsement from Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who played with Scott as a rookie in 1996.

The Inglewood-native played at Morningside High School and went on to win three titles out of six NBA finals. He's also been head coach of the New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers.

"He's a great coach. The players play for him. I think it's a really good fit for the Lakers," said Luke Walton, who played for Scott for two years.

"Kobe and Byron will have a great relationship hopefully, and we'll see. You've got to wait for everything to play out," said Richard Jefferson, who played for Scott in New Jersey.

ESPN contributed to this report.