EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When presented with a most intriguing possibility -- the Nets' Byron Scott as the coaching heir to Phil Jackson -- Kobe Bryant never needed to hesitate and gather a response. Before this brief conversation the other day, the thought had clearly crossed his mind.

	Byron Scott has two years left on his New Jersey contract.

"I hope so," Bryant said.

It seems too perfect, doesn't it? It won't be long until this Lakers dynasty is turned over to the 23-year-old with the greatness to carry championship seasons beyond Jackson and Shaquille O'Neal. Kobe doesn't just respect Scott but adores him. They were Lakers teammates for a season in 1997 and Scott taught him lessons that resonate with Bryant today. There's a closeness and admiration that transcends this Lakers-Nets NBA Finals. "He's like an oldest son to me," Scott said.

And so, perhaps, this doesn't forever need to be a long distance relationship. On every level, Scott is the perfect candidate to come home to the Lakers again, the kid out of Inglewood who grew up sneaking into the Forum, who won three Showtime championships and has developed into the coach his old point guard and co-owner Magic Johnson calls, "the next Pat Riley."

With two years left on his Nets coaching contract, with Jason Kidd's future uncertain past next season, the drama could develop as Jackson passes Red Auerbach as the greatest championship coach and expectedly drives off into the California sunset on his motorcycle. For the purposes of his championship charge with the these Nets, Scott calls New Jersey his "dream job," and didn't indulge himself in Kobe's endorsement beyond calling it "very flattering."

If Scott is too wise to confuse the issues with his Nets meeting the Lakers in the Finals, his wife, Anita, stood in the Staples Center the other night and spoke straight from the heart: "I think he would love to coach here," she said. "We have so many ties here. In this business, you go where the job is. Fortunately, it's in New Jersey. We're happy there and the team is doing well. But yeah, definitely, we would love to be here one day.

"We have Lakers in our hearts."

	“	I would like to know that Rod Thorn and I will be there for a long time. I think a lot of what I'm going to do is going to be predicated on what Rod Thorn does. ”
		— Byron Scott, Nets coach

Byron Scott's eventual candidacy makes so much sense for the Lakers. Once Jackson leaves as history's greatest coach, Shaq should've cemented himself as its greatest center. Once they're gone, the Lakers will start a new era surrounding Bryant and assuredly need to start running again. Who better to bring back Showtime than the shooting guard who lived on the finishing end of Magic's passes? Who better than the young coach who is responsible for bringing that breathless brand of ball to the Nets on their way to an improbable the Eastern Conference championship?

From Jerry Buss to Magic, from Shaq to Kobe, to the Lakers fans greeting Scott with Staples Center ovations longer and louder than ever afforded him at Continental Arena, they still love the Nets coach in Los Angeles. So yes, Nets ownership needs to take notice and make him comfortable in Jersey. For Scott, this starts with assuring him that that the architect of his team's revival -- the executive responsible for hiring Scott two years ago as an untested Sacramento assistant -- will stay at Scott's Jersey side.

"I would like to know that Rod Thorn and I will be there for a long time," Scott said. "I think a lot of what I'm going to do is going to be predicated on what Rod Thorn does."

At 61 years old and enjoying a professional renaissance, Thorn insists he isn't going anywhere. He has three years left on his contract, but concedes "I can't go on forever," in this job. Just how long is forever now? Thorn lost power when the YankeeNets moved Devils executive Lou Lamoriello over him a year ago, but Thorn insists he "loves" working with the hard-driving CEO and there's nothing to suggest a power struggle.

"I think Byron will be a very, very hot property if he ever becomes a free agent," Thorn said. "I would hope that he'd be our coach for many years to come, but I think a lot of people are going to be interested in Byron Scott."

This starts with Kobe Bryant, the 23-year-old superstar destined to have a dynasty delivered to his shoulders. When the time comes, he's made clear his choice to share this burden: Byron Scott.

This is a drama the long beleaguered Nets franchise could do without. As management works night and day to sell Kidd on staying the course, they need to be careful they don't take his coach for granted. They've come too far to lose this old Showtime shooting guard, especially back into the arms of that championship parade that spawned him.

Adrian Wojnarowski is a columnist for The Record (N.J.) and a regular contributor to ESPN.com.