Lakers Expected To Part Ways With Frank Vogel After Season

The Lakers are expected to part ways with coach Frank Vogel after the season, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

The news doesn’t come as a big surprise, given that the Lakers have been this year’s biggest bust following the addition of All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook and a remade roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

As is often the case in these situations, the coach generally becomes the fall guy. For the Lakers, Vogel is that man.

Fischer went as far to name potential candidates, listing Jazz coach Quin Snyder and 76ers coach Doc Rivers among the potential Vogel replacements. 

That’s not all.

“Multiple league figures contacted by B/R referenced the possibility that Lakers senior basketball adviser Kurt Rambis returns to the sidelines after several previous coaching stops in the league, including an interim stint as Los Angeles’ head coach,” Fischer wrote. “However, Rambis is said to be an integral figure in the front office and unlikely to resume a coaching role.”

Whoever is coaching the Lakers next season will have practically the same roster, unless something unforeseen should happen. Westbrook’s contract is considered a no-go by rival teams and it appears James and even Davis are untouchable.

The players around them failed to generate any interest at the February trade deadline, and that is unlikely to change during the offseason. Along with all that, the Lakers do not have a tradeable first-round draft pick for several more years.

But from the sounds of things, none of that will be Vogel’s problem once this disappointing season finally concludes.