Former Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich is willing to meet with Los Angeles Lakers management to discuss the coaching job left vacant by the sudden departure of Phil Jackson.

　　Two-time NBA champion Tomjanovich is one of several candidates who could take over the helm of the Lakers, who were beaten 100-87 in the series-clinching game five of the NBA finals.

　　The loss started a chain reaction of bad news for Los Angeles beginning with the club's decision not to keep Phil Jackson as head coach.

　　Giant centre Shaquille O'Neal then asked for a trade and superstar Kobe Bryant exercised a contract clause that allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent.

　　Lakers would like to have a coach hired prior to the NBA draft on Thursday.

　　The 55-year-old Tomjanovich is expected to meet with Laker management earlier this week.

　　Tomjanovich stepped down in May 2003 as Houston's coach because of the stress of coaching after being diagnosed with bladder cancer. He is healthy and now ready to return to the coaching full-time.