Lakers rumors: L.A.'s outlook on firing Frank Vogel, finding replacement

The Los Angeles Lakers are likely to move on from Frank Vogel after the 2021/22 season and are already looking at replacements.....

When any team is struggling to win games, no matter the sport, the pressure is always going to fall on the head coach. That's been the exact case for Los Angeles Lakers boss Frank Vogel, who has faced his fair share of criticism amid the squad's dismal campaign.

Well, it appears the Lakers weren't even sold on Vogel as the right man for the job when they handed him a one-year extension last August. And after their dreadful first half, the front office was seriously thinking of firing him in January and still are considering the idea of letting Vogel go after the 2021/22 season.

Via Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report:

Vogel's job security has been in question since he was awarded a one-year contract extension in August, just a year after leading the Lakers to a championship. In January, Vogel's job was reportedly in jeopardy, and he continues to endure rampant speculation. Few coaching figures hold optimism Vogel will still be manning the Lakers sideline come 2022-23.

As for a replacement, Los Angeles has identified a couple of targets such as Ty Lue of the Clippers and Mavs HC Jason Kidd, although the latter is unlikely to leave Dallas after just one season.

The whispers have been quiet on who could serve as Los Angeles' next play-caller. Previous preferred candidates such as Tyronn Lue and Jason Kidd have found success with the Clippers and Mavericks, respectively, and the only word in coaching circles so far is the Lakers will likely prioritize finding an experienced coach rather than a first-timer for the job. That calculus would seem to align with Los Angeles' never-ending title quest around James.

Not surprising the Lakers will want an experienced coach to come in. After all, this franchise is built on winning and needs to get back to relevance while LeBron is still playing at a high level. That being said, there's nothing saying LA is out of the picture for 2022 yet. The play-in tournament is likely a reality, but the Lakers can still make some noise if they get healthy and start to jell better.