K.R.'s Back - But is Phil Jackson gone?

I haven't even seen this online yet, but reports on LA's ESPN radio suggest that during this Sunday's Lakers vs. Spurs game, ABC will air a taped interview that took place today between Magic Johnson and Phil Jackson.

In that interview, Johnson supposedly asks Jackson how much longer he plans on coaching. Reportedly, Jackson answers that he will coach through the end next season -- that is, he'll finish this year and next, completing his current contract with the Lakers, then he'll hang it up.

Obviously, being that he's Phil Jackson, you've got to take it all with a grain of salt. He "retired" in 1998 after guiding the Bulls to 6 NBA championships only to return to take the Lakers job in 2000. He "retired" in 2004 after the Lakers failed to beat the Pistons in the NBA Finals, only to return after a one-year hiatus.

So, this leaves a few questions. Will he really retire? What if the Lakers win the championship this year? Will he leave on top?

What if they win both this year and next year? Will he want to leave while on a championship streak?

If he does leave at the end of next year, may Kobe Bryant opt out of his contract if the new coach isn't who he wants to play for? On that note, how much say will Bryant have?

Lastly, who are the candidates for what is arguably the most attractive coaching job in not just in the NBA, but in all of professional sports? Inside candidates are certainly Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw (if not Jim Cleamons or Frank Hamblen). Outside candidates have got to be current New Orleans Hornets coach and former Lakers star Byron Scott, who recently said that the Lakers job would be his "dream job." Scott's current contract conveniently expires at the conclusion of the 2009-2010 season.

In 2004, at Bryant's urging, the Lakers reportedly offered the job to Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, though he ultimately rejected. Perhaps after bonding with Kobe on the 2008 "Redeem Team," Coach K may be more interested in the Lakers job if offered it again in 2010?

Anyway, it's all preliminary at this point, but it's definitely an interesting story that hasn't really broken yet. It'll be fun to actually see what Phil says in the interview that is causing so much hype in the LA sports radio world.