Luke Walton's future as the long-term head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers never looked very bright after LeBron James became the sole obsession of the franchise, and it doesn't look any prettier now. According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, the 38-year-old coach is expected to be fired after the 2018-19 season concludes.

The Lakers have reportedly kept themselves from firing him in-season due to the already massive drama surrounding them after a failed attempt to trade for Anthony Davis:

The prevailing assumption in league coaching circles remains that Walton will almost certainly be dismissed after the season, followed by the Lakers resuming their trade quest for Davis. But denying Walton an opportunity to at finish out a season wrought with drama and distraction since James’s first dribble in purple and gold would be cruel and needless.

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Walton was put in a no-win situation from the start, clearly a coach without any previous rapport with James, and one who has suffered the woes of running an offensive system around one player, therefore sacrificing the individual skill sets he had developed over the last few years as the head coach of the team.

The Lakers could look to hire one of James' former coaches in Tyronn Lue, as well as other notable names like Jason Kidd and Monty Williams. Walton's days are likely numbered, by no fault of his own, but nonetheless only a matter of time before the Lakers make the move and go forward with a different man at the helm.