The Lakers are revamping the coaching, scouting and training staffs and there is also changes to the front office, too. The contract for assistant general manager Ronnie Lester expires on June 30 and Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com reports he won't be offered a new contract. Lester has been Mitch Kupchak's assistant for the last 10 years. McMenamin writes: "... while it initially seemed like there was potential for the employees to be rehired when the possible drawn-out labor unrest is settled, the growing sense is the team is using this offseason to cut ties with the Phil Jackson days and turn the page on the next era of Lakers basketball."
Apart from Lester, the Lakers have also informed more than a dozen scouts, training staff members and video staff personnel that their contracts will not be renewed when they expire at the end of June as well, as first reported by the Los Angeles Times. The layoffs first appeared to be a cost-cutting measure by the Lakers in light of the potential lockout that could occur July 1 if the NBA owners and players' association cannot finalize a new collective bargaining agreement by then. But, while it initially seemed like there was potential for the employees to be rehired when the possible drawn-out labor unrest is settled, the growing sense is the team is using this offseason to cut ties with the Jackson days and turn the page on the next era of Lakers basketball. http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=6589726
