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Luke Walton has learned that a coach's work is never done. Nearly a month after he left his job as a temporary assistant at the University of Memphis to rejoin the Lakers, Walton continues to coach from afar. "I get random texts from certain [players] and after a game, if I'm able to watch it, I'll send some texts out to some of the guys with some thoughts," Walton said. College basketball used to be an afterthought to Walton except during the NCAA tournament. Not anymore. Now Walton said he will watch the Tigers whenever he can, even if it means finding a sports bar with satellite television. He also continues to correspond with Memphis Coach Josh Pastner, a former teammate of Walton's at Arizona. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Luke Walton 

Walton said working as an assistant intensified his interest in coaching after his playing career ends. He is under contract for two more seasons with the Lakers. "It was a lot more challenging than I thought — the hours were a lot longer than I realized," Walton said, "but I had a real good time doing it so it definitely made my interest level go up." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Luke Walton 

Mark Medina: Luke Walton isn't planning on early retirement. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Luke Walton 

Walton said his chronically sore back was not forcing him into early retirement. "I expect to be on the court," he said in a phone interview with The Times. "I can fight through any pain I have and finish up the contract. I feel great right now, so there's no reason to believe I won't be able to play and help out the squad." Walton, 31, has two years and $11.5 million left on his contract. World Peace, 32, has three years and $21.5 million remaining. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Luke Walton 

Walton said he ignored reports that he might be waived. "I felt there's a chance it could happen, but everything I've heard is that Mitch [Kupchak] isn't using it this year," Walton said, referring to the Lakers' general manager. "I think it's great. Our team is fine. We don't need big change. If you ask anyone on our team, we feel very confident that our window is not closed and we could win another championship before it does close. "People flip out because we didn't go to the Finals last year, but if you take a step back and look at the big picture, we went to three straight NBA Finals and won two of them. We were the No. 2 seed in the West [last season] and got beat by a good team that ended up winning it all and got really hot against us." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Luke Walton 

L.A. is targeting Walton (owed $11.5 million this season and next season) as its amnesty player. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Luke Walton 

It remains unclear how the Lakers' roster will look now up through their season opener Christmas Day against the Chicago Bulls. The Lakers have plenty of unsigned players, including Shannon Brown, Devin Ebanks, Derrick Caracter, Joe Smith and Theo Ratliff. They can exercise the so-called amnesty clause by shedding ties with Metta World Peace (three years, $21.5 million) or Luke Walton (two years, $11.46 million). Free agency beginning on Dec. 9 will also contribute to the frantic environment leading to opening day. Still, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak told The Times' Mike Bresnahan that both rookies Darius Morris and Goudelock "probably deserve a chance to be looked at, and [they] have promise." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Shannon Brown, Mitch Kupchak, Derrick Caracter, Devin Ebanks, Theo Ratliff, Luke Walton, Joe Smith, Darius Morris, Metta World Peace 

Alex Kennedy: Several league sources have speculated that the Lakers will use the amnesty clause on Ron Artest, but I think Luke Walton makes more sense. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, Luke Walton 

Coach Josh Pastner said Saturday that assistant Luke Walton, the Los Angeles Lakers forward whom Pastner hired as a third assistant coach last August, will remain on staff at least through Memphis' Dec. 6 game at Miami (Fla.). Once a new collective bargaining agreement is signed, NBA training camps are expected to open Dec. 9, meaning Memphis (2-2) would have Walton through its next three games. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Luke Walton 

Despite some undeniable exasperation within the organization after the former Ron Artest's erratic play in 2010-11 -- followed up by his all-too-real name change to Metta World Peace -- sources say L.A. is targeting Walton (owed $11.5 million this season and next season) as its amnesty player. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Luke Walton, Metta World Peace 

Luke Walton looked like he was enjoying himself. The University of Memphis assistant coach's eyes were glued on Tigers sophomore forward Tarik Black, who was working on post moves along with Memphis' other frontcourt players in a recent practice at the Finch Center. After picking up a quick tip from Walton, Black had executed the move perfectly. Walton nodded and clapped his hands in approval. "TB, I promise you you're going to score a lot of points with that move right there," Walton said. "Now we're making moves with poise and under control. Weave through the defense like that and you're going to be at the foul line all night long." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Luke Walton 

Though he's disappointed the lockout has gone on this long, Walton, who plans to return to the NBA as soon as the lockout is over, said he's looking forward to the challenge of trying to help Memphis from the coaching bench, starting with Wednesday's exhibition opener against LeMoyne-Owen at FedExForum. "I've loved it," Walton said Sunday. "It's been better than I even imagined it would be. It's been a lot of fun working with these young men and with the city, and how into Memphis basketball they are. Everyone's been great as far as the fans and everything, and then really Coach P letting me do everything that a coach would do as far as recruiting, coaching in practice and being in charge of the bigs. He hasn't really stopped me from doing anything. He's let me go free rein and do whatever I feel is best, so it's been a great experience so far. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Luke Walton 

Officials at the University Memphis say no, assistant coach Luke Walton didn't commit an NCAA rules violation when he was quoted in the Los Angeles Times this week about his first in-home recruiting visit. Walton was one of three Memphis coaches who visited Clarksville (Tenn.) Northeast High senior forward Alex Poythress on Sept. 21. "I told him my story," Walton told the Times' Mike Bresnahan, referring to his home visit with Poythress (6-8, 220), a five-star prospect who's also considering Kentucky, Florida and Vanderbilt. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Luke Walton 

It didn't take Luke Walton long to start popping up in living rooms. The Lakers forward has jumped into his temporary job as an assistant coach with the University of Memphis, making his first home visit recently to help the Tigers recruit Alex Poythress, a Kevin Durant clone who lives near Memphis and is also considering Duke, Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. "I told him my story," Walton said, sharing with the recruit how he went from a solid college player at Arizona to an eight-year career with the Lakers. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Luke Walton 

For Walton, the most annoying rule limits college coaches to only two hours a week with players during the off-season. Memphis coaches work with players on the court for about 30 minutes a day, four days a week, until practices officially begin next week. "By the time we get warm and going, we tell the kids they have to go," Walton said. "They want to get better, we're out here to help them get better, then they have to leave." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Luke Walton 

How long does Walton think he's going to be at Memphis? "If I had to guess right now, at least until the end of December and even into January. But I'm also hearing that the season might not happen at all this year," said Walton, who added that he talks frequently to NBA players association rep and Laker teammate Derek Fisher. "It's crazy to think about it. But the deeper we get into this -- into November and actual games are missed and both sides are missing paychecks -- that's when the negotiations will really heat up. It will come down to who is willing to give in. After listening for six hours [during a recent players rep meeting], neither side wants to fold. I think the pressure will pick up in November and we'll have a clearer idea if and when the season will start." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Luke Walton 

For now, Walton said his mindset is in Memphis, where he has moved for the time being. "But I'm aware that if the lockout ends, I'm going back to L.A. and rooting for the Tigers," Walton said. Until that happens, Walton is banking on coaching Tiger headliners Black, Joe Jackson and Will Barton in a season in which the Tigers are the unquestioned Conference USA favorite and will likely start the season in the top 15 nationally. And Walton knows he could be in Memphis to see the whole season through. "There is a really good chance that does happen," he said. "Obviously as a player I want to play basketball. But I'm in a situation that I enjoy in Memphis and I feel we can have an extremely successful season. I see this team making a Final Four run. And that would be so much fun to be a part of. This is a good situation. I'm not sitting around thinking about the lockout." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Luke Walton 

Does it bother you that your name comes up in the lockout argument against players that are making too much money? Luke Walton: “It obviously bothers me. I haven’t really noticed it because I kind of stay out of the media during the offseason. But obviously it bothers you as a player. You want to feel your worth. Obviously I’m getting paid a salary that was for a much larger role back when we agree upon the deal. I was a playmaker, I was playing 30 minutes a game and I was able to do a lot of things for a team. And I had offers from other teams to do the same thing. … For the most part, fans have been great out here. Then, all of the sudden you bring in Pau Gasol and other players of that caliber and my role kind of gets smaller and smaller. I can still play the game … then all of the sudden my back goes bad on me and mentally I’m frustrated. … The role that I was paid that money to do kind of got taken away in a sense.” Sports Radio Interviews

Los Angeles Lakers, Lockout, Luke Walton 

Luke Walton joined Fox Sports Radio with Petros and Money to discuss his new gig at Memphis, if he thinks he’ll enjoy coaching, what his role will be, where Phil Jackson is right now, what is going on with the lockout and if it bothers him that he’s a name that comes up in talks about how contracts and money are out of control. On how the whole Memphis situation came about: “My good friend, Coach Pastner, Josh, called me up and asked if I had any interest in coaching and I said I would love an opportunity at it. So we worked out some details.” Sports Radio Interviews

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Luke Walton 

Do you think this was a hasty decision that you might later regret?: “It could be. That’s part of the reason I took it, just to kind of get a feel for it. Obviously I made some phone calls to some people before I said yes to get there advice on it. Most everyone, including my old coach, Phil Jackson, thought it was a great opportunity for me and something I should do just for that reason, to find out maybe I hate sitting in gyms blowing whistles for three hours a day when I could be down in Manhattan Beach. But maybe I’ll love it.” What’s your role?: “I’m in charge of all the big men. I’ve got the big men under my watch. Damon Stoudamire has the guards and Jack Murphy has the wing players.” Sports Radio Interviews

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Luke Walton