It seems there are at least two names to keep an eye on if the Lakers head coaching job opens up.
Darvin Ham’s job doesn’t feel particularly safe after the Lakers were bounced from the playoffs in the first round by the Nuggets and J.J. Redick and Tyronn Lue are two possible replacements, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
McMenamin mentioned the two – one a 15-year veteran in the NBA and the other a veteran coach with an NBA ring to his name – during an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show.”
“JJ certainly is a real candidate if they open up this coaching search,” McMenamin said. “But there’s, I’d say, a half a dozen folks out there, including possibly the guy who just lost last night against the Mavericks, Tyronn Lue. He has one year remaining on his contract. What’s going to happen with his deal with the Clippers? There will be a process there that there are several viable candidates that will get an interview.”
The writing is on the wall for Ham’s time with the Lakers and The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reported on Thursday that the Lakers’ “plan is still to move on from Darvin [Ham] at some point, likely by the end of the week.”
Ham went 90-74 in two seasons at the helm of the Lakers and there was said to be “frustration” with his coaching decisions over the course of the season, according to a report by The Athletic.
Lue would be a familiar face to take over for Ham, especially if the Lakers are hoping to keep LeBron James.
Lue of course coached James when they won an NBA title in Cleveland.
Redick’s name has popped up recently in connection with another coaching vacancy in Charlotte.
Redick scored more than 12,000 points during his NBA career and has served as an analyst for ESPN since he stepped away from the game.
