The Los Angeles Lakers have been given permission to speak to Golden State assistant coach Luke Walton over their vacant coaching job.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr confirmed the 36-year-old will be able to hold talks with the Lakers at the conclusion of Golden State's first round playoff series against Houston.
The Warriors lead the series 3-1 ahead of Wednesday's fifth game.
"We told Mitch that he's perfectly welcome to talk to Luke as soon as the series is over and we have a little break," Kerr said of Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak.
Walton, a former Lakers forward, became one of the most coveted coaching prospects in the NBA after leading the Warriors to a 39-4 start this season while Kerr was recovering from back surgery.
Should he join the Lakers, Walton would be reunited with a franchise where he spent the bulk of his playing career and was a member of two NBA title-winning teams.
Walton was also a part of the Warriors staff that last year helped the team capture a first NBA championship since 1975.
The Lakers are looking to rebuild after firing head coach Byron Scott following a franchise-worst 17-65 season and bidding farewell to all-time great Kobe Bryant, who retired earlier this month after a glittering 20-year career in Los Angeles.
Italian San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina is being mentioned by as another possible candidate for the job.
Reuters
