About-face Riley now says he met with Lakers
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1827107
Riely: Joint Lakers no longer an option
MIAMI -- Miami Heat president Pat Riley confirmed Wednesday that he met with
Los Angeles Lakers officials about their coaching vacancy, but stressed that
no contract offers or demands were made.
Riley, in a statement distributed by team officials, said a meeting took place
after Lakers owner Jerry Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak asked for
and received permission from Heat owner Micky Arison.
"During our discussion, which lasted a few hours, there was never any
demands made by me nor was there ever an offer presented by them," Riley
said in the statement. "It was simply a long philosophical discussion about
the situation."
Riley did not specify when the meeting took place. On Saturday, he said
through a Heat spokesman that he was seeking to extend his contract as Miami's
president and that reports linking him with the Lakers' coaching search were
merely "rumors."
Former Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich has reportedly started talks
with the Lakers. Tomjanovich, who resigned as Rockets coach a year ago to
treat bladder cancer, met with Kupchak and Buss for about two hours on Tuesday
in Los Angeles.
The 55-year-old Tomjanovich is thought to be the front-runner to succeed
Phil Jackson, who helped the franchise win three NBA titles in five seasons.
The announcement that Jackson wouldn't return next season was made last
Friday, just three days after the Lakers lost to the Detroit Pistons in the
NBA Finals.
The Lakers hope to hire a new coach within a month or less. Kupchak says he
plans to interview more than one candidate and fewer than 10 in a process that
could take several weeks.
"We are in the process of trying to narrow down the coaching candidates and
select a coach for this team," Kupchak told the Houston Chronicle in
Wednesday's online edition. "I would hope this would happen sooner than
later.
Riley, a winner of 1,110 games in 21 seasons, led the "Showtime" Lakers of
Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to titles in 1982, 1985, 1987 and
1988. He also coached the New York Knicks (1991-95) and the Heat (1995-2003)
, resigning from the Miami job four days before last season began.
"I have great respect for the Lakers, Dr. Buss and Mitch Kupchak; they've
built one of the premier franchises in the NBA," Riley's statement said. "
For the past 34 years the Lakers have been a big part of my life and I would
like to thank them for the opportunity to talk."
Riley called the meeting "a great trip down memory lane," and said he and
the Lakers "mutually decided to end our conversation in regards to their
situation."
"I am and will continue to be committed to building the Miami Heat in hopes of
one day winning an NBA championship," Riley said.
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