Monty Williams and Tyronn Lue are reportedly being told by confidants to not take the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching job, according to Ramona Shelburne and Jorge Sedano of ESPN.
The Lakers have been in contact with Williams and Lue.
Williams is currently an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers, who are up 2-1 against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs. Lue, meanwhile, coached Lakers star LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The two won the 2016 championship over the Golden State Warriors.
Shelburne is reporting Williams is being told to stay away from the Lakers, while Sedano is reporting the same from Lue's side.
“I think Monty’s the favorite, but I don’t know how that interview went last night,” Shelburne said on ESPN 710 LA. “I haven’t heard from either side and it also is a choice for him. He’s probably in line if Philly opens up. If they lose or if they fall short, he’d be in line to step in there. His kids are settled there, he’s done a lot of moving around, so I could see him stay there. And also, everyone in the league has told him not to take the job.”
“So I told you earlier, and I mentioned this yesterday, that someone I know that is a mutual friend with Ty Lue, that is a very close friend to Ty Lue, told me, ‘I told Ty, don’t take the Lakers job. This thing is a mess,' ” Sedano said on his ESPN Radio show.
The Lakers missed the playoffs this season, the first year of the LeBron James era. Magic Johnson stepped down as president and Luke Walton was fired.
GM Rob Pelinka is leading the coach search. Multiple reports have claimed people around the league don't believe Pelinka knows what he's doing.