With the recent firing of head coach Darvin Ham after just two seasons, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves searching for their sixth head coach in the last decade. This latest coaching search comes at a critical juncture for the franchise.
Despite solid individual seasons from stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers struggled with injuries, roster construction, and finding the right rotations under Ham. As a result, they failed to meet expectations and were eliminated decisively in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets.
Top Assistant Coaches In Mix
If the Lakers decide to roll the dice again on a first-time head coach, they may look to tap one of the many well-regarded assistants around the league:
- Kenny Atkinson – A finalist for the job back in 2019, Atkinson has since won a championship with the Warriors as an assistant coach after successfully developing the Nets.
- David Adelman – In his fourth season as a Nuggets‘ assistant, Adelman was integral to their last two playoff victories over the Lakers. Bringing him over could help solve the puzzle of beating the reigning Western Conference champions.
- Charles Lee – Highly touted Bucks assistant under Mike Budenholzer. Coached Darvin Ham in Milwaukee and is expected to become a head coach soon.
There are also several well-regarded assistants on contending teams like Boston, Miami, and Dallas that could enter the mix.
An Outside The Box Idea – JJ Redick
An intriguing wildcard name that has been floated is former NBA sharpshooter and current television analyst, JJ Redick.
Despite having never coached, Redick is highly regarded for his basketball intelligence. He also hosts a regular podcast with LeBron James, providing unique insight into James’ thinking and ideas on the game.
Learn more about podcasts hosted by NBA players here!
Hiring a former player like Redick with no prior coaching experience would be an enormous risk. But with job security for Lakers‘ coaches notoriously fickle, perhaps they swing big by tapping someone who could connect with their star players.
Critical Factors in The Search
As the Lakers weigh their options, several factors could guide their decision-making process:
- Fit with LeBron & AD – Keeping two injury-prone stars healthy and performing optimally is central to any winning strategy. The next coach must connect with James and Davis.
- Coaching Experience – Is prior experience mandatory or will the Lakers roll the dice again on a first-time coach? This could dictate which direction they lean.
- Roster Input – The Lakers have been poorly constructed outside their stars. The next coach must have some personnel to improve the supporting cast.
- Management Relations – Can the coach co-exist with Rob Pelinka and Kurt Rambis? Philosophical alignment with management is key.
How decision-makers weigh these factors could determine whether they pursue an experienced retread or up-and-coming assistant. Integrating well with stars and management is likely the top priority.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
This coaching decision is shaping up as one of the most critical in the Lakers‘ history. They are still paying for botching things in 2012 by passing over Phil Jackson for Mike D’Antoni, which led to Dwight Howard‘s departure and years in the lottery after Kobe’s Achilles tear.
With the clock ticking on LeBron‘s legendary late-career run, the margin for error is almost non-existent. James turns 39 in December and Anthony Davis has proven incapable of staying healthy or leading the Lakers to real success as the lone alpha.
Identifying the right coach to meet this moment could shape the Lakers‘ next decade. Not only do they need to get this coaching choice right for their short-term hopes of winning another championship during LeBron‘s final act, but they also need someone who can gracefully transition the team to life after James when he eventually retires.
For a franchise that has struggled with succession planning and transitioning gracefully between eras, this looms as one of the most pressure-packed coaching searches in its history. All eyes will be on the front office to move swiftly and smartly after the disappointment of 2023-2024, making this the most high-leverage decision the Lakers have faced since the disappointing 2012 offseason.
Sources:
www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/los-angeles-lakers-next-head-coach-odds
www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/head-coach-lakers-candidates-nba/3405467/
www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2024-05-03/los-angeles-lakers-next-coach-potential-candidates
