Walton says he was nervous telling Kerr about Lakers job

In the midst of last season's playoffs, the Golden State Warriors found out assistant coach Alvin Gentry would be leaving them. This year, it's Luke Walton who will be moving on when the season is completed.

Walton, named the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, may not have a top-five talent like Gentry inherited in the Pelicans' Anthony Davis, but he's confident in what he's got to work with.

"I think they have some good young talented players," Walton said of the Lakers at Warriors practice Saturday. "I'm excited about the players and the pieces that are there, and there's obviously work to do, but they got a nice start."

In terms of leaving a comfortable environment with a dominant franchise, Walton admitted it was tough to break the news to his boss, Steve Kerr.

Related: Warriors excited for Walton's new gig with the Lakers

"I was a little bit nervous about making the call (to Kerr) because we have such a good thing going here," the 36-year-old Walton said. According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Walton's car broke down on the way to dinner with Kerr when the news broke Friday.

"You've got to take opportunities as they come," Walton said.

The opportunity for Walton is taking the helm of one of the league's flagship franchises, which has experienced an unprecedented string of low-grade basketball. Walton, who played for the Lakers from 2003-12 and studied the coaching style of Phil Jackson, added Saturday that Jackson's triangle offense is not his preferred choice for a team with young talent like Julius Randle and D'Angelo Russell.

While the organization didn't enjoy much success on the summer market toward the end of Kobe Bryant's career, the Lakers figure to be in pursuit of free agents like Kevin Durant and DeMar DeRozan.