The Los Angeles Lakers and Luke Walton decided to part ways shortly after the 2018-19 regular season, leaving the team in search of a new head coach. There have been several candidates listed for the job in recent days, and now former Memphis Grizzlies head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been added to the discussion.

According to a report from Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers will interview Bickerstaff on Friday at the team’s practice facility in El Segundo.

Bickerstaff, now 40 years of age, has heard his name tossed about for several head coaching vacancies in recent weeks. He's a well-qualified candidate, which is why he's appealing to so many teams.

Bickerstaff was promoted to the Grizzlies' interim head coach on Nov. 27, 2017, just after the firing of David Fizdale. In May 2018, Bickerstaff was named the permanent head coach of the team. However, after failing to reach the playoffs this season, he was fired.

The Lakers have already interviewed other prospects for their head coaching job, including former Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue and former Magic head coach Frank Vogel. Their meeting with Lue went south, according to several reports, as the two sides were not able to reach an agreement.

Whomever the Lakers hire as their next head coach will need to focus on maintaining the development of the young talent on the roster. It will be the fifth head coach of the franchise in eight years, so a bit of stability wouldn't hurt. Above all, though, the Lakers need a coach who can lead the team back to the playoffs.