The NBA Draft Mix in Chicago this week is when offseason talks between entrance workplaces begin to get critical and, with that, it is when rumors begin flying.
For the Lakers, meaning ramping up their teaching search to discover a substitute for Darvin Ham, one thing Adrian Wojnarowski talked about at ESPN, including that this shall be a protracted course of.
“A few names to observe on this search. James Borrego, the highest assistant in New Orleans, they went from the [ranked] 21, 22 offense within the league final yr to a prime 10 offense… Borrego had run his head coach in Charlotte went from 23 to 33 to 43 wins. He was clearly with Gregg Popovich for a very long time in San Antonio. He’ll be a candidate on this course of.
“One other candidate is somebody who hasn’t coached, and that is our colleague right here at ESPN, J.J. Reddick. He’s actually any person that the Lakers are drilling down on, they’re making calls and making an attempt to get a way of what a head coach, head coach J.J. Reddick would appear to be.”
These are removed from the one names flying round. Jovan Buha of The Athletic advised that a number of prime assistants are being thought-about: Micah Nori (Minnesota), David Adelman (Denver), Sean Sweeney (Dallas), and Chris Quinn (Miami). One other title talked about across the league is Warriors assistant and former Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson.
One query to think about: Would the Lakers go along with one other first-time head coach after Ham?
It is doable Redick might be one other Steve Kerr, somebody who can transition rapidly from the printed sales space to high-level coach (though Kerr had been a GM in Phoneix, he’d been in a entrance workplace). It is also doable Redick could possibly be one other Steve Nash. We’ll by no means know till he’s within the job — and the identical is true of certified assistants like Nori and Quinn. It is unimaginable to say how somebody will deal with the job till they’ve completed it for some time.
Can the Lakers take that threat discovering out contemplating LeBron James’ window, or do they want extra of a recognized amount resembling Borrego or Atkinson? (Tyronn Lue additionally suits that group, however he stays below contract with the Clippers, who’re making an attempt to increase him, and Steve Ballmer is not going to let Lue stroll to educate their in-city rivals.) The sample of the Rob Pelinka Lakers has been to react to the final determination that did not work and swing 180 levels, which might recommend the Lakers lean into expertise. Nonetheless, all the pieces appears on the desk proper now.
The one factor that appears sure is that this shall be a protracted course of.
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