The Los Angeles Lakers have officially made Darvin Ham their next head coach. One of the many coaches they looked into before hiring Ham was Michigan head coach Juwan Howard. If LA had its way, the former NBA All-Star would be wearing purple and gold instead of maize and blue next season.

According to basketball reporter Marc Stein, the Lakers' job was' Howard's for the taking. He opted instead to remain the head coach for the Michigan Wolverines, where he will get the chance to coach his sons.

The Lakers, I'm told, made such strong overtures to Howard that the implication was clear: The job was his if he wanted it. As covered here on May 2, Howard made it clear in turn throughout the Lakers' 47-day search that — despite his long associations with both James and Lakers vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka — he had no interest in leaving behind the college game at Michigan and the opportunity to coach sons Jace and Jett next season.

Howard, who spent six years as an assistant coach with the Miami Heat before taking the job at Michigan, didn't show interest in taking the Lakers gig. The team ended up not offering him a contract despite its high level of interest.

After showing interest in candidates with head coaching experience like Doc Rivers, Terry Stotts and Mark Jackson, the Lakers chose Ham. He built up experience as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Lakers. Now, he will look to turn around the fortunes of the Lake Show.