Mike D'Antoni has stepped down as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

D'Antoni was hired in November of 2012 to replace Mike Brown as the Buss Family chose him over Phil Jackson.

Dwight Howard did not enjoy playing for D'Antoni and his presence played a role in his departure in free agency, while he also seemed to lose the support of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol in 13-14.

D'Antoni was under contract for the 14-15 season and the Lakers held an option on his deal for 15-16 that he attempted to get the team to pick up.

"We've hit an insurmountable impasse and Mike will no longer be the Laker coach," agent Warren LeGarie told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

“Given the circumstances, I don’t know that anybody could have done a better job than Mike did the past two seasons,” said Mitch Kupchak in a release announcing the move. “On behalf of the Lakers, we thank Mike for the work ethic, professionalism and positive attitude that he brought to the team every day. We wish him the best of luck.”

Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reports that the Lakers likely will "hire for (a) high-salaried big-name NBA guy or NBA assistant with upside."

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that both Kobe Bryant and Lakers' management are known to be fond of Ettore Messina.

Mike D'Antoni is pushing for the Los Angeles Lakers to pick up their option on his contract for the 15-16 season, according to a source.

The Lakers are currently planning on bringing back D'Antoni for next season, but a longer term commitment appears unlikely.

The Los Angeles Lakers' management has agreed on bringing back Mike D'Antoni as head coach next season, according to a source.

The Lakers did not comment.

D'Antoni decided not to return to his alma mater, Marshall, and the job went to his brother, Dan D'Antoni.

Marshall University has hired Dan D'Antoni as its next head coach.

The school will hold an introductory press conference at 2 p.m. Friday.

D’Antoni, the older brother of Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni, has served as an NBA assistant coach for the past nine seasons.

D'Antoni graduated from Marshall in 1970.

Mike D'Antoni is not expected to take the vacant coaching job with Marshall, sources told CBSSports.com.

One source was under the impression that D'Antoni would take the job if he was fired by the Los Angeles Lakers.

CBSSports.com reported in March that there was mutual interest between the two sides.

The Lakers are waiting to make a final decision on whether to keep D'Antoni for the 14-15 season, the final season of his contract.

Kobe Bryant began an intense six-month training program with an early-morning workout Monday, sources with knowledge of the situation said.

As he returns from a broken bone in his left lateral tibial plateau, Bryant has been cleared for running and shooting.

Bryant was confident about pushing harder after receiving positive feedback during a consultation last week with the doctors in Germany who previously performed the platelet-rich plasma treatment known as Orthokine on his knees.

Bryant visited the doctors while he was in Europe on a short trip with his family last week, sources said.

Jim Buss was more in favor of trading away Pau Gasol at the trade deadline than Mitch Kupchak.

The Los Angeles Lakers were never offered more than a second round pick for Gasol.

The Lakers decided not to trade away the expiring $19.3 million contract of Gasol for such a small return.

"Mitch wins a lot more of these battles than people imagine," said an agent who asked not to be identified because he deals with the Lakers. "They respect his caution."

Jim Buss pledged to his siblings during a winter meeting that he would step down from his post in basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers if the team didn't become a contender again within the next few years.

"I was laying myself on the line by saying, if this doesn't work in three to four years, if we're not back on the top — and the definition of top means contending for the Western Conference, contending for a championship — then I will step down because that means I have failed," Jim Buss told The Times about the meeting. "I don't know if you can fire yourself if you own the team … but what I would say is I'd walk away and you guys figure out who's going to run basketball operations because I obviously couldn't do the job.

"There's no question in my mind we will accomplish success. I'm not worried about putting myself on the line."

The Los Angeles Lakers may have their highest pick in over 30 years this year, but they appear interested in trading it away.

"I think there’s a possibility," said Kupchak when asked about a trade of the pick.

The Lakers may look to accelerate their rebuilding efforts around Kobe Bryant and their cap space.

Kendall Marshall plans to play for the Los Angeles Lakers' team in Summer League in July.

The Lakers have planned to pick up the non-guaranteed season on Marshall's contract for 2014-15.

Marshall averaged 8 points and 8.8 assists for the Lakers this season.