The Los Angeles Lakers are again on the hunt for a new head coach after Mike D'Antoni resigned on Wednesday.
The Lakers made the announcement in the evening, reports Lakers.com. "Given the circumstances, I don't know that anybody could have done a better job than Mike did the past two seasons," GM Mitch Kupchak said. "On behalf of the Lakers, we thank Mike for the work ethic, professionalism and positive attitude that he brought to the team every day."
D'Antoni was the L.A.-based team's head coach for less than two seasons after Mike Brown was fired shortly into the 2012-13 season. He managed a 67-87 record over that time period, in which the team largely struggled due to superstar Kobe Bryant's absence due to injury.
He signed a three-year contract when he came onboard, but even before the latest season came to a merciful end, multiple sources told ESPN that the two sides have been talking about the team's future. He seemed willing to return to the Lakers, but wanted his fourth season picked up first.
Lakers' management opted not to do that and D'Antoni and the team came to a settlement agreement that will pay him a good chunk of his $4 million third season salary. Should he get hired, the Lakers are eligible to recoup some of the settlement back.
When the news first broke, Magic Johnson wasted no time in joyously taking to Twitter. He tweeted, "Happy Days are here again! Mike D'Antoni resigns as the Lakers coach. I couldn't be happier!"