I'm going to go with one not listed: Minnesota Think about it. No talent in NYC, why would he go. Skilles did get that extension today according to Espn.com. Third, he just what sane reason would LA (Kobe) want Phil back after he trashed them in a best selling book? Minny has the Superstar (KG), it's got tallent (they did go to the conference finals last season), and they are in need of a coach. The team hasn't really gotten over the hump yet. If any, this, to me seems most likely of Phil's destinations.
We already know he isn't going to the Bulls since Skiles finally came to his senses. He will go to the Lakers because he wouldn't be meeting with Kobe unless it was a done deal. If Kobe vetoes him coming back after all of the intense coverage, it would be unbearable. It's also seems clear to me the Lakers are confident of PJ coming back because they don't seem to have a Plan B. If he doesn't come back to the Lakers, no other team will pay his huge asking price.
Phil's gonna be on the pre-game show, hopefully with an announcement of some type.. edit: anyone catch it?
Here are my conclusions about "Phildo". Please comment on where you disagree/agree. 1 The Lakers want him back. 2 Phil wants to come back to the Lakers. 3 Phil wants to have Kobe's approval before coming back. 4 Kobe doesn't want Phil to come back. 5 The Lakers will let Phil make the final decision (instead of Kobe) because Kobe is locked up. 6 (For good measure) If Phil comes back, he will have a lot more leverage over Kobe than before. Both Phil and Kobe clearly know this. #1 above is plainly obvious. If you disagree with it you are just wrong. #2 Phil wouldn't be making such a spectacle of the whole thing if he did not sincerely want to come back. This is a public flirtfest. If he hadn't already decided he wanted to come back, he wouldn't bother trying to set up a meeting with Kobe. #3 Phil wants to meet with Kobe face to face to guage him completely. If Kobe welcomes him, the deal is done; end of story. If Kobe is hostile or uncaring, Phil must decide whether coming back to a hostile or indifferent Kobe is worth the hassle. #4 Kobe clearly doesn't want Phil back. Otherwise, he would have dropped clear public hints by now. His silence on the issue speaks loudly. Supposedly, the reason he doesn't want a public meeting is to avoid blame if Phil decides no. The bottom line: Kobe doesn't want Phil but he doesn't want to be blamed if Phil says no. #5 is clearly predicated on #4. I sincerely believe it's Phil's decision because Kobe feelings are clearly known by the Lakers organization but they will still hire him if he wants the job. If you think I'm off base, let me know.
The paper also noted that Phil could be using the Lakers as leverage given the wishy washy signals from both camps. Buss has said that whoever they hire will command a 10 million dollar salary range.
