<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Fifty-four days have passed since Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak called Phil Jackson a "viable candidate" to fill the Laker coaching vacancy, a span in which three other teams have hired coaches and the seemingly eternal NBA playoffs have almost run their course. What's the holdup? Or, perhaps better phrased, where's the vision? After weeks of reflective time for both sides ? as in, "Could this really work?" ? the Lakers expressed serious interest in Jackson last week. But Jackson seems to be awaiting a revelation to clarify whether he should return to the game that has given him nine championships in 14 seasons. He said last month he hadn't "quite got the vision yet," then said Thursday he would finally get "off the queue here in a day or two," but still has not made a decision. The Lakers want a coach in place by the June 28 draft and are committed to him, but ? "At this time in his life, he wants to make sure he's committed," Laker assistant general manager Jim Buss said Monday. "I want him committed for three or four years, if that's what he's going to do. If he isn't, that just shows you the class of the man he is; he's not going to hurt us and put us in a bad position. "He's promised me he wouldn't do a one-and-out. Rudy Tomjanovich hurt us. It threw us for a loop. We can't have something like that. I understand totally and appreciate that Phil respects our position." Buss, son of the Laker owner, said he expects Jackson to reach a decision by the end of the week, "one way or the other." Financial negotiations are not expected to be overly difficult ? Laker vice president Magic Johnson said as much this month in estimating Jackson's price tag would fall in the $7-million to $10-million range ? which leaves Jackson negotiating one thing. His state of mind.</div> Source
