Van Gundy to replace Jackson?

The Lakers are going to need a new coach when Phil Jackson rides off into the sunset at the end of the season. Brian Shaw, a longtime Lakers assistant, figures to be the most logical internal candidate. But what about from outside the organization? Marc Stein of ESPN.com offers a few lines about one possible replacement: "I heard again this week that the Lakers remain intrigued by the prospect of hiring Jeff Van Gundy -- and you have to presume that the reigning champs are in the select club of teams with the wherewithal to finally lure Van Gundy away from ESPN's courtside announcing table -- but I've had the same question every year when someone says he's a candidate in L.A.: Can Van Gundy really deliver the sort of entertainment that Lakers owner Jerry Buss craves?"

Ummm, my answer would be, no.