After Mike D'Antoni's resignation as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, the team has immediately started its search for the replacement.

The Lakers are looking to "make a splash" with their next coach, unnamed sources told ESPN Los Angeles. The sources said the team will at least contact UConn coach Kevin Ollie and Kentucky coach John Calipari some time soon.

The sources also said the Lakers will not even try to lure Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, since they have done so in the past to no avail. Ollie and Calipari are two of the most popular names in college basketball after each lead their team to the NCAA Championship game despite their low seeding. Ollie's Huskies, a seven-seed, beat Calipari's Wildcats, an eight-seed.

The Lakers are coming off a dismal 27-55 season in which Kobe Bryant did not play a single minute. The Lakers are expected to take a patient approach to their coaching search and they will have a good chance at a high draft pick and money to spend in free agency.

LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are set to hit the open market this summer and Kevin Durant will do the same next year, barring team extensions. The sources said the Lakers could sign either James or Anthony and let them contribute to the coaching search. Another option for the Lakers is to aggressively pursue Ollie, since his close relationship with Durant could help the team land the Thunder superstar. Ollie was also James' teammate when the two played for the Cavaliers.

Michigan State's Tom Izzo said he plans to return to the Spartans next season, but did not rule out an eventual move to the NBA. Florida's Billy Donovan is also mentioned annually in NBA coaching searches.

Derek Fisher, Durant's Thunder teammate and longtime Laker great, may also be interested in retiring to become a head coach. Jason Kidd did the same after he retired with the Mavericks and became the coach of the Nets, the team he played for most of his career.

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