It got here as no shock that the Lakers fired embattled head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons. However a few of the candidates to interchange Ham could appear a little bit uncommon. This is a take a look at a few of the names into consideration to take over the Lake Present.
The podcaster: JJ Redick
Redick has by no means been a basketball coach on any degree, however he does have what may be essentially the most compelling resume merchandise for the Lakers: He hosts a podcast with LeBron James.
On “Thoughts the Sport,” James and Redick drink wine and speak about basketball technique. Did James ever convey fancy wine to Ham’s workplace? Perhaps not.
Whereas Redick has his personal media firm that produces the James podcast, in addition to “The Outdated Man and the Three,” he is additionally been elevated to the lead broadcast staff for ESPN’s NBA telecasts. He nonetheless appears prepared to leap to teaching, with insider Shams Charania reporting he was a “critical candidate” for the Charlotte Hornets job.
Some coaches like Steve Kerr and Larry Chicken did nice with no head-coaching expertise. Others, like Magic Johnson and Steve Nash, not a lot. However with James in a position to enter free company, the brand new coach may be whoever King James desires.
The previous coach: Tyronn Lue
Lue received a championship teaching James with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, and he led the Cavs to the NBA Finals in 2017 and 2018. The Lakers had curiosity in hiring Lue in 2019, after firing Luke Walton, however they solely provided him a three-year contract. As a substitute, they employed Frank Vogel, and Lue turned a Clippers assistant coach, and took over the pinnacle job in 2020.
James would possibly need to reunite with Lue, but it surely will not be as much as him. Lue nonetheless has a yr left on his contract with the Clippers, who’re shifting into a brand new enviornment subsequent season. They reportedly need to signal Lue to an extension, and as Steve Ballmer is the wealthiest proprietor in skilled sports activities, they will afford to satisfy Lue’s worth.
The NBA champion: Mike Budenholzer
“Coach Bud” received a title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, however he bought fired after the top-seeded Bucks misplaced to the Miami Warmth within the first spherical of final yr’s playoffs. Budenholzer has received 56 or extra video games 4 instances with Milwaukee and the Atlanta Hawks, however his postseason file is barely 56-48, with two upsets by the Warmth in his final 4 seasons.
Budenholzer simply has the most effective observe file of any obtainable candidate, however he isn’t identified for his flexibility or his playoff success. If the Lakers are going to fireplace their coach for falling quick within the playoffs, Budenholzer won’t be the man.
The highest assistant: Kenny Atkinson
Atkinson nearly left the Golden State Warriors after their 2022 championship to steer the Hornets, however he modified his thoughts and went again to Steve Kerr’s workers. He guided the Brooklyn Nets by a brutal rebuild in his earlier head job, taking them to the playoffs. However Atkinson did not survive the additions of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and Brooklyn fired him in favor of Nash.
He is maybe essentially the most high-profile, head-coach-ready assistant coach within the NBA proper now. In fact, you may have stated that about Ham two years in the past as effectively.
The player-coach: LeBron James
If James goes to rent and hearth coaches and seek the advice of on personnel strikes, why do not the Lakers make it official and rent James as a player-coach? Invoice Russell received two titles as a player-coach, so it may be finished. Perhaps James can break much more floor and grow to be a player-coach-GM!
He is already finished so many issues that nobody in basketball historical past has completed that this can be the one place James can break new floor. Plus, teaching will preserve him busy sufficient to ensure there is not any likelihood he ever makes one other “Area Jam” film.
