Darvin Ham has been fired as Lakers coach, partly as a result of the gamers did not purchase into his changes and educating strategies, partly as a scapegoat to cowl some poor roster building selections in recent times (GM Rob Pelinka cleaned these up in addition to he might, however the harm was by no means utterly undone). The Lakers have been by way of six coaches within the 13 seasons since Phil Jackson left the group, who’s subsequent up for one of many premiere however hardest jobs within the league?
Not Tyronn Lue or Jason Kidd. Or, at the least, it is extremely unlikely, regardless of their names popping up in rumors.
The reason being easy: Each are underneath contract for another yr with their respective groups and aren’t about to be fired, which is something Marc Stein wrote about in his publication. In actual fact, each the Clippers and Mavericks want to lengthen their coach past this yr.
“Like I mentioned, I need to be right here. Hopefully, we’re capable of solidify that…” Lue mentioned when requested concerning the Lakers rumors following the Clippers’ elimination from the playoffs by Kidd’s Mavericks. “I did not are available in to bounce round, go all over. [Clippers owner, management] all been nice to me. Simply having a fantastic relationship with the proprietor, with the entrance workplace. It is nice. I’d like to be right here longterm.”
Kidd is anticipated to be supplied and signal a contract extension to remain in Dallas with Luka Doncic and a contending group, Stein reported.
Even when a type of coaches went to their respective groups and mentioned they needed to stroll away — which, to be clear, neither has executed, that is only a hypothetical — the Clippers and Mavericks will nonetheless have the coach underneath contract and wouldn’t let him stroll out the door to a convention rival. In concept, the Lakers might attempt to commerce for a type of coaches, however even when the Clippers/Mavericks did not grasp up on the decision, the value can be a few first-round picks. Within the case of the Lakers, they want these picks extra to retool the expertise round LeBron James and Anthony Davis than land a coach.
What Lue and Kidd have in frequent is ties to LeBron, who is anticipated to choose out of the $51.4 million remaining yr of his contract with Los Angeles. The Lakers desperately need to maintain him — and most across the league anticipate he’ll re-sign in Los Angeles — and a part of that’s bringing in a coach he desires. Realizing that, it isn’t a shock that the names have been at the least leaked — it is a signal the Lakers are trying and making an attempt, even when the outcomes are unrealistic.
Different names talked about as attainable Lakers coaches embrace former NBA head coaches Mike Budenholzer — who gained a championship with the Bucks — and Kenny Atkinson. There definitely might be others.
Simply do not anticipate a group at hand their star coach over to the Lakers.
