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Nate McMillan could become Lakers' defensive assistant coach, according to report

Harry How

The Los Angeles Lakers' new head coach Mike D'Antoni is expected to contact Nate McMillan about potentially becoming his defensive assistant coach, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.

Adding the defensive-minded McMillan to the Lakers' staff could potentially shore up some of the concerns about D'Antoni's shortcomings as a defensive coach. Known primarily for their tempo-pushing Seven Seconds or Less offense and masterful execution of the pick and roll, D'Antoni's squads have been criticized for their struggles defensively. McMillan and D'Antoni both served as assistant coaches on the 2008 U.S. national team.

The 48-year-old McMillan spent 2000-2005 as the head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, and the following six and a half seasons as the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. He was fired by the Blazers in March of 2012 and later served as an assistant coach under Mike Krzyzewski for the U.S. national team during the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

This story was originally published on SBNation.com.