Eric Musselman Hired By Lakers To Be Team's D-League Head Coach

Eric Musselman has been hired by the Los Angeles Lakers to be head coach of the team's D-League affiliate Los Angeles D-Fenders, the team announced on Thursday. Musselman coached the NBA Development League's Reno Bighorns this past season after a brief layoff in his coaching career.

Musselman is currently serving as head coach of the Venezuelan National Team, but previous coaching stops include stints as head coach of both the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings as well as serving as the Dominican Republic's head coach.

"I'm excited to announce Eric Musselman as the Los Angeles D-Fenders head coach," D-Fenders team president Joey Buss said in the press release. "He has vast experiences in both the NBA and NBA Development League and will be a great addition to our franchise. I look forward to working with Eric and having a successful season."

Musselman will have his work cut out for him considering the D-Fenders won't have any returning players as a result of not playing this past season (though, as Brian Levy notes below, they'll like pick-up the right to the Utah Flash players returning). The D-Fenders cited the cost of playing in the Staples Center as one of the reasons for closing shop and, as a result, will play their games in El Segundo this season.

I guess this opens up the Reno Bighorns coaching position unless longtime Musselman assistant Clay Moser is promoted up the bench in the Bighorns organization.