The Los Angeles Lakers are still looking for their next head coach. Who will replace Darvin Ham on the sidelines will be one of the biggest talking points of the season, not just for the Lakers but also for the NBA. It will be a deciding factor in what happens with LeBron James going forward.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance that general manager Rob Pelinka and team owners nail this decision. They will undoubtedly cast a wide net to find the ideal candidate and now we have a better idea for what they will be looking for.
According to Dan Woike of Los Angeles Times, the Lakers are focused on hiring an experienced coach.
“In conversations with sources over the last few days, there’s a strong sense the Lakers are putting a premium on experience in this search — following trends where the Lakers have course-corrected from one decision by doing a version of the opposite.”
– Dan Woike, LA Times
This is understandable. Despite extensive experience as an assistant, Darvin Ham was a first-time head coach when the Lakers hired him two seasons ago.
Ham was unfairly treated at times by Lakers fans. He wasn’t given a great roster both in terms of fit and depth. However, it’s also difficult to argue that the Ham hire worked out.
Therefore, the Lakers opting for a more experienced head coach this time around makes some sense. Some of the names mentioned by Woike include Ty Lue, Mike Budenholzer, and Kenny Atkinson. At the same time, he doesn’t completely reject the possibility that a first-time head coach like JJ Redick, Micah Nori, and David Adelman may be hired.
Whoever the Lakers end up hiring has to be the right decision. LeBron James only has a few more seasons left in the league and it behooves Los Angeles to optimize his remaining time in the NBA. That starts with the right head coach.
