The Los Angeles Lakers have regrouped after their fallout with Tyronn Lue and have begun their search for their next head coaching candidate, planning to interview Frank Vogel next, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
Vogel flew out to Los Angeles on Thursday for the interview, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The former Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers coach is one among a group of candidates who will be considered for the position, including Jason Kidd, Mike Woodson, Lionel Hollins and Juwan Howard.
The 45-year-old Vogel has a combined 304-291 (.511) record in the regular season and 31-30 (.508) mark in the playoffs throughout his eight years as an NBA head coach. The Pacers reached the conference finals in back-to-back years under his leadership in 2013 and 2014, losing to a LeBron James-led Miami Heat on both occasions.
The Lakers reportedly offered Lue a three-year, $18 million deal to coach, but the former Cleveland Cavaliers helmsman was looking for a five-year deal, like the one Monty Williams recently got from the Phoenix Suns.
Los Angeles reportedly is looking at shorter-term deals (three years) to match the three seasons remaining on LeBron James' contract.
The Lakers have also wanted to control who's on the new head coach's bench — another point of disagreement between Lue and the Lakers. The front office dangled the possibility of Kidd joining Lue's staff, as they were impressed with his ability to develop young players in Brooklyn and Milwaukee.
Lue disagreed, as having Kidd on his staff could also work against him if the Lakers didn't perform as expected by next year's trade deadline. Lue got his start as a head coach this way, as he was part of David Blatt's staff, immediately inheriting the job when the latter was fired in 2016.
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