Nets' D-League coach headed to Lakers

Bob MacKinnon, who coached the Springfield Armor the past two years, is headed to the west coast to coach the Laker's' D-League team, the L.A. D-Fenders.

The news was first tweeted out by ESPN LA's Ramona Shelburne...

Hearing Bob MacKinnon is in line to be the next D-Fenders coach.

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) August 3, 2013

MacKinnon had an up and down tenure with the Armor, winning the league's Eastern Division regular season title in 2011-12 and finishing at the bottom of the division last season. McKinnon won a D-League title in his first-ever year of coaching in the league, when he steered the Colorado 14ers to a championship in 2009. During his tenure in Springfield, the Armor produced three players who were called up by the Nets --Dennis Horner and Jerry Smith two years ago-- and Kris Joseph this season. Willie Reed (Grizzlies) and Jeff Foote (Hornets) also got called up from Springfield

Tyshawn Taylor and Toko Shengelia spent time with the Armor this season, both of whom averaged better than 20 points per game in a series of short stints.

No indication yet of who will replace MacKinnon. His assistant, Chris Carrawell, has received high marks for developing several players, specifically Reed. He has no head coaching experience. However, although that didn't stop the Nets!

The Armor are owned by Michael Savitt, who owns minor league baseball teams as well, but basketball operations are run by the Nets. Milton Lee, the Nets General Manager of Minor League Operations, has the lead role in running the team.

• D-Fenders target Bob MacKinnon to be coach - Dave McMenamin - ESPN LA
• Lakers’ D-League affiliate targeting Bob MacKinnon as coach - Scott Schroeder - NBC Sports