Lakers

Lakers Coaching Candidacy May Be Wider Than Just Three Reported Finalists

May 25, 2022

The Lakers reportedly are down to three finalists for the head-coaching vacancy, but the pool may actually be larger than that still, as relayed by Marc Stein of the Stein Line and others.

For now, the finalists for the job are said to be Bucks assistant Darvin Ham, former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, and ex-Nets coach and current Clippers assistant Kenny Atkinson.

While those three are certainly in the mix, there is a sense that the Lakers may be still be considering others and continue to have the likes of 76ers coach Doc Rivers and Raptors coach Nick Nurse on their radar.

It is not believed, however, either of those coaches intend to leave their current situations to coach a team that failed to make the play-in tournament and still has yet to figure out what to do about Russell Westbrook, who is coming off a rocky season in LA.

Along with that, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus reported that LeBron James‘ supposed preference is Ham.

Lakers legend and former executive Magic Johnson recently weighed in on the search, suggesting the franchise would be wise to hire a former player as its next coach. Johnson reportedly is among those advising the Lakers in their search.

“I think that, to me, they’re showing you, right now. Probably besides Erik Spoelstra, all the other three that’s in the final four are ex-players,” Johnson told The Aldridge. “So, I think that says a lot about these young ex-players who command respect right away, who have done it before. I’m not saying it has to be an ex-player, but I’m saying you have to look at what’s going on. Most of the guys who are in the playoffs.

“But the most important thing to me is accountability. They must hold everybody, one through 15, accountable. And we got away from accountability. Guys never talked about that this season. It was always somebody else’s fault. I hated that. Never, ‘Hey, I played bad. Hey, It’s on me.’ So whether it’s an ex-player or not, but the trend is ex-players. But if not, I want a coach that’s going to hold everybody accountable. And, so, that’s what I would like to see.”