The Los Angeles Lakers are still in the middle of their coaching search, but as it currently stands, there are already two candidates standing out to be LeBron James and the Purple and Gold's next head coach.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, there is no clear frontrunner for the position yet. However, Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham and former Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts are said to be “the closest to current favorites.”
“Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka made it clear that the team was going to take their time with the search and that one of the most important coaching qualities would be gravitas. That suggests a coach with experience, but several of the first-year candidates they’ve been linked to are former players that are known to command respect,” Buha wrote.
The Lakers have been rumored to be looking for a veteran head coach who can make LeBron James buy-in to his system. However, if Buha's reporting is accurate, it seems Rob Pelinka and co. are open to all options with the consideration of a potential rookie coach in Ham.
Nonetheless, nothing is set in stone yet and a lot can change in the offseason. If an established coach like Doc Rivers, Quin Snyder and even Nick Nurse becomes available, the Lakers are guaranteed to pounce.
Sure enough, the pressure on the next Lakers coach is overwhelming. After a chaotic 2021-22 season under Frank Vogel, the difficult task of turning the franchise around with an aging roster falls on the next coach.
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