NEWSLETTER
The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Friday that they officially parted ways with head coach Darvin Ham.
The news comes after plenty of speculation during an up-and-down season for LA. Despite some great play from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers struggled to remain competitive in the Western Conference. The team had to battle their way into the postseason via the Play-In Tournament for the second straight year. Unlike last year’s heroic Western Conference Finals run, however, the Lakers watched the Denver Nuggets end their season in the first round.
When we consider Ham’s 90-74 coaching record, his Western Conference Finals appearance, multiple Play-In victories, and an In-Season Tournament title, it’s hard to say he did a poor job during his first stint as a head coach. At the same time, we all know expectations are high when LeBron James is on the roster. Not to mention, Ham’s time didn’t come without its hiccups. The 50-year-old received plenty of criticism this year for his constant rotation changes and early-season struggles.
Who is on the Lakers’ Wish List?
The Lakers opening will likely become the most desirable job on the market. Even with the pressure that comes with it, there aren’t many stages bigger than LA. And this is precisely why the initial list of candidates doesn’t come as a surprise.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that two championship-winning coaches, Mike Budenholzer and Kenny Atkinson, are on the list. Budenholzer helped lead the Milwaukee Bucks to their ring in 2021, while Atkinson won a title as a lead assistant in 2022 with the Golden State Warriors. Atkinson has been one of the hottest names on the market in recent years and also possesses head coaching experience from his days with the Brooklyn Nets.
Charania also name-dropped Ty Lue, who has been at the helm of the Los Angeles Clippers since 2019. He spent his time before that coaching LeBron James and winning a championship in Cleveland. Whether or not he’ll become available is unclear, but one has to imagine he’d move to the top of the list if he does.
The last specific name mentioned was long-time NBA role player JJ Redick. The sharpshooter turned media giant has received some buzz for coaching gigs. For instance, news broke that the Charlotte Hornets will reportedly interview him for their opening in recent days. Redick has also started a new podcast with LeBron James titled “Mind the Game,” so one has to wonder if his relationship with the superstar could play a role in landing the job.
If one thing is for sure, this will be one of the bigger storylines to follow over the next couple of months. Let’s not forget that James could also choose to enter free agency, as he’s $51.4 million for the 2024-25 season is a player option. This will be a dramatic offseason for the Lakers!
Ps: May I recommend head coach Billy Donovan?
