Byron Scott plans to increase young players' minutes down the stretch
With the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly torn on whether or not to bring him back as head coach next season, Byron Scott is apparently trying to become more flexible.
After suppressing the playing time of the Lakers' youngsters - and ostensible building blocks for the future - throughout the first half of the season, Scott said Wednesday that he plans to increase those players' minutes after the All-Star break.
Scott has shown particular distrust in rookies D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle, bumping them from the starting lineup (though Randle has since returned) and occasionally nailing them to the bench in crunch time. He's accused Randle of being immature, Russell of being cocky, and both of failing to grasp team basketball.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has also admitted that the development of his team's young players would take a backseat to Kobe Bryant's farewell this season. That directive appears to have shifted slightly as the 11-44 Lakers head into the stretch run, as Scott said Bryant's workload will be "probably a tad less" over the final 27 games.
Scott did add, however, that Russell won't be back in the starting lineup Friday when the Lakers play their first post-break game against the San Antonio Spurs. Scott cited a need to spend more time contemplating when exactly to put Russell back with the starters, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
Bryant currently ranks third on the team with 29.3 minutes per game. Randle (27.3) and Russell (27.1) rank fourth and fifth, respectively.