The LA Lakers are getting all the limelight this postseason as they get to grips with their disastrous season and look for change in personnel. The Los Angeles Lakers star-studded team not making into the playoffs was and is one of the biggest talking points in and around the world of NBA. With One of the All-Time Greats, LeBron James himself, and two future Hall of Famers in Anthony Davis and freshly traded, Russell Westbrook, the Lakers looked scary on paper, not so much on court.
Lakers had won the NBA Championship just 2 years ago in 2020, under the supervision of the head coach, Frank Vogel. They now find themselves in need of a coach after ending their worst season ever in franchise history and firing Frank. With the clock ticking on LeBron James’ future with the organization, they face even more pressure to call the right shots. Los Angeles is reportedly going to take their time in their search, but an optimal deadline would be before the 2022 NBA Draft. Lets take a look at some favorites who could fill the vacancy as their coach and the void in their playing style.
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Top 3 candidates for Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach
The controlling owner and president of the LA Lakers, Jeanie Buss, spoke to the media and revealed that Magic Johnson and Phil Jackson are back with the organization. The two franchise legends won five rings each with the Purple and Gold and are there to advise Buss moving forward. As the front office scrutinizes all options available, the best suited candidates for the head coach at the Lakers in my opinion would be as follows :
1. Doc Rivers
Doc has had a great year for Philadelphia 76ers, although they just missed out on the Eastern Conference Finals after a 4-2 series loss at the hands of Jimmy Buttler’s Miami Heat. Rivers has been a key aspect and motivator of their Superstar, Joel Embiid who had his best season in NBA history and arguably should have won the MVP award. Had it not been for Embiid’s orbital fracture, Philadelphia would have reached new heights.
Rivers became a head coach for the first time in 1999–2000, taking an Orlando Magic team that was projected to finish near the bottom of its division to a 41–41 record and becoming NBA Coach of the Year. Fired after a 1–10 start in 2003–04, he worked as a TV analyst before resuming coaching with the Celtics in 2004–05.
In 2006–07, Rivers’s third season as the Celtics’ head coach, Boston had a 24–58 record, and critics were calling for Rivers’s job. Rivers inspired one of the greatest turnaround in league history next season, guiding the Celtics on a dramatic journey to a 66–16 season that culminated in defeating the 4–2 in the finals. The championship was the franchise’s record 17th—and its first since 1985–86. The Celtics continued to field one of the best teams in the NBA through the end of the decade and into the 2010s
Doc is beloved by commentators as he was once one of them and could bring the best out of the superstars in Los Angeles.
2. Quin Snyder
Quin Snyder is one of the biggest names in the modern era that come to mind. His resume speaks for itself as he has transformed a disgruntled Utah side, to one of the best regular season teams. He has elevated certain players once they put on a Jazz uniform. While that is true, the postseason success, or lack thereof, is concerning. He is a big admirer of Westbrook and could probably bring the bets out of him
Despite being one of the best regular-season teams in the league the Jazz have often come up short in the playoffs, oftentimes in an ugly fashion. The team has never made it past the second round of the playoffs and Snyder has a losing record as a head coach.
Snyder spent one season as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2011-12 season. He then spent a season with CSKA Moscow as an assistant, a year with the Hawks as an assistant and has been the head coach of the Jazz since 2014.
3. Darvin Ham
Darvin Ham played in the NBA for eight seasons and has been a highly-regarded assistant since 2008, including with the Lakers from 2011-13. Ham has worked under Mike Budenholzer with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks and has interviewed for numerous head jobs.
In 2011 Ham got his first coaching opportunity with the LA Lakers, it was Mitch Kupchak Lakers GM at the time who gave him his first coaching job in the NBA. As an assistant coach his focus was on player development, during that time he became well respected throughout the NBA. In 2013 Ham left to become an assistant coach for Mike Budenholzer (Bud) who was appointed head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. Ham had played under Bud for the Austin Spurs D-league team in 2008, for which Bud was the head coach. The Charlotte Hornets are interested in hiring him as a head coach too.
In the modern-day NBA, you often hear about “Big man coaches”, “Point Guard Whisperers” and “Offensive/Defensive specialists”. Darvin Ham is a basketball coach plain and simple, he knows his game plan and has been part of some of the best teams of the last decade with the Hawks and Bucks. Lakers could really use his experience and would be an ideal coach for LeBron James.
Lakers hunt for gold continues, as this offseason could have bigger implications than theri ruglar season did !
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