Lakers Ask for Phil's Hand

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Phil Jackson does not know if he is going to coach the Lakers again, but this much has become crystal clear ? the Lakers want Jackson.

Laker assistant general manager Jim Buss told Jackson earlier this week that the Lakers wanted him to return, effectively turning a two-way street ? Jackson needed to warm up to the Lakers and the Lakers needed to warm up to him ? into a one-way avenue.
Jim Buss told Jackson he was speaking for himself, General Manager Mitch Kupchak and his father, Laker owner Jerry Buss.

Last month, Jerry Buss said he had not determined if he wanted Jackson back, an issue that has now been resolved. It is decidedly up to Jackson, with the Lakers awaiting a firm answer.

If Jackson agrees to return, negotiations would not be difficult, team vice president and minority owner Magic Johnson said last week. Jerry Buss said last month he was willing to pay relatively close to $10 million annually for a coach.

Appearing in a TV interview Thursday before Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Jackson told ABC his decision whether to coach next season would come soon, saying it was time to get "off the queue here in another day or two."

"This is the biggest pregnant pause in history, waiting for me to make a decision about this," he said. "It was about health and getting through about four batteries of tests to make sure that things didn't happen that were similar to other situations here in L.A. that happened with Rudy Tomjanovich last year.

"There have been some other things that have held it up but we're kind of narrowing it down now. I know these teams have to have an answer."

A source close to Jackson softened his "day or two" timeline but said Jackson would have to decide "sooner than later, because a number of people and a number of organizations are waiting."</div>

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