Subscribe
Follow Us
The Los Angeles Lakers are slowly falling down the Western Conference standings. The team had the fourth best record in the West after beating the Golden State Warriors last December. However, they lost superstar LeBron James and veteran playmaker Rajon Rondo to injuries after the game and have suffered plenty of defeat since.
The Lakers have lost three straight games and nine of their last 14, and while a large part of the slump is due to James and Rondo's absence, a lot of fans are putting the blame on head coach Luke Walton.
Walton's job security has been in question all season, and rumors have started to intensify yet again because of the Lakers' losing stretch that saw them drop games against two of the worst teams in the league — the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Now, there are reports that LeBron James' camp isn't happy with what Walton has done with the team and are yearning for the Lakers to make a coaching change, according to a discussion by Jackie McMullan and Brian Windhorst in the Hoop Collective Podcast.
MacMullan: “There’s a lot of tension in that building. A lot of tension in that building, and I think people are wondering about Luke Walton even though Jeanie Buss came out very strongly and said ‘I want Luke to be here, I back him 100 percent,’ but then also made the point that has to be made, and that’s that she hired Earvin Magic Johnson to make these decisions, and if Earvin feels differently she gave him the power to make those kinds of decisions. It’s clear to me, and probably to you Brian, that LeBron’s camp would prefer a coaching change. They’re not too subtle about that.”
Windhorst: “LeBron publicly hasn’t talked publicly in a month.”
MacMullan: “Not LeBron, but all the people around LeBron, and they’ve made it known. I don’t think this a shock, is it? For me to say this?”
Windhorst “That’s a fair thing to say. That’s a fair thing to say.”
While LeBron has publicly admitted that he supports Walton, his camp doesn't seem to be as patient as he is.
Article Continues Below
Even if Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has repeatedly said that there is no plan to replace Walton, she might begin to feel the pressure to change her mind soon, especially if the Lakers keep losing.
Moreover, it also seems that the Lakers are now beginning to think about finally breaking up the young core, as rumors have circulated that they are now willing to trade Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and Lonzo Ball. Earlier this week, there were also rumors that they have placed Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac, and Moritz Wagner in the trading block.
With the trade deadline fast approaching, will the Lakers be able to pull off a blockbuster trade? Is a coaching change imminent?
We'll just have to wait and see.
