Brian Shaw, Jerry Sloan, Mike D’Antoni Among Possible Replacements for Mike Brown (Photos)

The coach is dead. Long live the coach.

Mike Brown finally got his walking papers from the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, and within minutes rumors swirled as to whom the next coach of the Lakers would be. Disgruntled Lakers fans apparently already had their wish lists in order, anticipating the dismissal of the coach who was saddled with most of the blame for the Lakers’ 1-4 start.

Some of the rumored candidates were well-known commodities such as Mike D’Antoni and Jerry Sloan, while others, such as Brian Shaw, may have been recognized only by diehard NBA observers. Yet others may be only the figments of a Lakers fan’s wildest dreams, while another was a product of Dwight Howard‘s nightmares.

Bernie Bickerstaff will coach Los Angeles in the interim, but few expect him to continue in that capacity for long. No matter who ends up taking over the grease board for good, in the meantime it is fun to speculate.

Check out some of the candidates to coach the Lakers>>