Mike D'Antoni hired: Nate McMillan targeted as defensive assistant

After being named the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, former Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni is expected to reach out to Nate McMillan to become his defensive assistant, according to CBS Sports.

McMillan was fired by the Portland Trail Blazers in March and was presumed to be a candidate for the Lakers' vacancy, but was never contacted by the front office regarding the position. The move would help address the criticism that D'Antoni is deficient when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. McMillan also has experience coaching both Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard in the United States Men's National Basketball program.

Also in consideration are D'Antoni's brother Dan and Phil Weber, a member of his staff in both Phoenix and New York. When the Lakers fired Mike Brown, they made it clear that his assistants would only be owed half of their annual salaries in a cost-cutting provision that made the coaching change easier to execute from a financial standpoint.

Eddie Jordan, the longtime NBA coach and member of Brown's staff that was brought in to install the Princeton offense, will likely be let go as D'Antoni and the Lakers are expected to scrap the scheme in favor of D'Antoni's own fast-paced style of offense.