The Lakers are rumored to be looking past Brian Shaw and want to talk to such epic retreads as Rick Adelman and Mike Dunleavy.

This is the height of lunacy.

For all the "lack-of-experience" arguments against Shaw, there are just as many "lack-of-success" arguments against the others. And besides, haven't we already ridden the Dunleavy train before?

Ah yes, Mike Dunleavy, who couldn't guide the Magic Johnson-led Lakers to more than one win in the 1991 NBA Finals in what would be Michael Jordan's first championship. He lasted only one more year and made Randy Pfund look like an upgrade. Oh yeah, let's do that again.

Adelman, who is no stranger to Western Conference basketball after stints with the Portland Trailblazers, Sacramento Kings, and Houston Rockets would bring his curmudgeonly self to Lakerland and would be almost as bad a fit as Rudy Tomjanovich was the first time Phil Jackson retired.

Don't forget, Adelman had talent like Clyde Drexler, and Chris Webber and couldn't get over that playoff hump. Does anyone think really think this is the guy to mentor Kobe into his decline years?

Which leads me to why Shaw makes sense: he's familiar with everything that has made the Lakers successful with Kobe Bryant on the roster. He's a former longtime player who played alongside Bryant during the three-peat years. He has a rapport and trust-level with Kobe that none of the other two guys who have spent the last ten years trying to deride him have.

This is not a team in need of rebuilding or redirection. This teams needs to recommit to playing defense, a younger, kore athletic point guard, and someone who can tell Kobe honestly what's up.

There is no evidence to suggest Brian Shaw will succeed as head coach of the Lakers. However, there isn't exactly a wealth of testimony to lead anyone to believe Dunleavy or Adelman would either.

Keep it in the family this time.