Who's the Lakers' Next Head Coach?

Now that Mike D'Antoni has finally resigned as Los Angeles Lakers head coach, the speculation that started a few months ago can become a reality.

Reports were that the Lakers had planned on retaining D'Antoni next year, but did anyone really buy into that?

Not even D'Antoni did.

What spot? The team's real coach had made it clear he wanted another figurehead. And he's got one in mind.

Yes, D'Antoni was upset the Lakers didn't extend his contract, but why should they? He was a fired man walking. In his two years there, he had the worst winning percentage -- .409 (67-87) -- of any Lakers coach since George Mikan, of all people, in 1957-58 when that Hall of Famer and Minneapolis Lakers legend checked out at .231 (9-30).

True, he had injuries to his top players,but he was doomed from the get-go. Pau Gasol's dislike of him was right up there with Bryant's.

He didn't get along with Dwight Howard, either, but that wasn't news.

Most importantly, his system didn't fit the players.

So now where do the Lakers turn?

Why not Doc Rivers? He's already in LA, he's won an NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics, and he's surely sick of the LA Clippers. That situation is far from over, and Doc has already said publicly he doesn't know if he'll be back next year.

So, if I'm Jeanie Buss, I'd be calling Doc as soon as the season is over.

As far as Byron Scott and Derek Fisher are concerned, the former has experience as a head coach, so I could see him there, but the latter is too green to run this team.

My vote would go to Doc. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Lakers pull the trigger on this deal.