Byron Scott says the Lakers should make LeBron playing coach: "The only person that he trusts is himself"

With rumors of the next Lakers head coach starting to float around, former Showtime Lakers player and ex-NBA tactician Byron Scott has a suggestion for Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka.

Since it is almost impossible that Steve Ballmer will allow Tyronn Lue to go from his Clippers to the Lakers, the only name on the shortlist that makes sense as the Lake Show's next coach isn't coming to town. With Lue unavailable, Scott says that LA's next best option is to make, well, LeBron James their next strategist.

"It's obvious to me that he's making a lot of decisions that's going on in this organization - from a coach's standpoint to a player's standpoint. So, if f you allow him to make those decisions, sit on the bench and make those decisions as well. Be the head coach…Player-head coach, go back to the Bill Russell days," Scott said.

Ty Lue is out of the equation

Last week, NBA insider Shams Charania revealed a shortlist of possible candidates to replace Darvin Ham. Charania mentioned former Bucks championship head coach Mike Budenholzer, former Nets HC Kenny Atkinson, former NBA player JJ Redick, and Lue, with the latter the obvious favorite since he won a title with James in 2016.

But with Lue still having a couple of years left in his Clippers contract, he is likely out of the equation, And with Ty himself saying that he wants to remain with Ballmer's team, the Purple and Gold might have to look elsewhere, which is going to be very difficult.

"Obviously, you gotta get somebody that LeBron is comfortable with - from a head coaching standpoint," added the former coach. "The last name that I heard was JJ Redick, well I started laughing. What now they got a podcast together so y'all comfortable? You all buddy-buddy so now his name is on the list? So as far as I'm concerned, the only person that he's gonna really trust is himself. And since you're making a lot of decisions anyway, why not put him on that seat?"

McCants theorized that LeBron is using the podcast to prepare Redick

Interestingly, Redick's name emerged in the picture after former Minnesota Timberwolves player Rashad McCants theorized on the Gil's Arena Podcast that LeBron started a podcast with Redick so that he could groom him as the Lakers' next head coach , with Ham's firing inevitable.

"JJ and LeBron start a podcast. JJ says he wants to be a coach. LeBron knows that Darvin's a**, and his days are numbered. JJ gets hired by the Lakers. LeBron is still a player. JJ coaches LeBron. He brings in Bronny, and the podcast thrives," McCants explained .

While Bill Russell is perhaps the only name relatable to the world playing coach in the NBA, there have been many others who played that dual role on an NBA team. The likes of Red Holzman, Dave DeBusschere, Dolph Schayes, Bob Pettit, Bob Cousy, and Dave Cowens were also playing coaches at one point in their careers. However, we haven't seen one since Cowens in 1979-80 with the Celtics.

Related: Patrick Ewing shares which type of coach is a good fit for the Lakers: "It's a person that will be able to handle LeBron"