Three top assistant coaches in the NBA have been connected to the Los Angeles Lakers as possible replacements for Darvin Ham. Los Angeles Lakers as potential candidates to replace the recently fired Darvin Ham.
Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike said that Denver’s David Adelman, Minnesota’s Micah Noria, and Dallas’ Sean Sweeney, along with Boston’s Charles Lee, are being considered as assistant coaches.
Tyronn Lue remains their top choice but Lue and the Los Angeles Clippers have mutual interest in a contract extension.
The team is in the early stages of the coaching search, with both internal and external sources describing the Lakers as taking their time.
(Unless something changes with, say, Tyronn Lue),” Woike wrote on May 8.
The Lakers are valuing experience over a first-time coach like Ham, and are considering a wide range of candidates.
“Yes, that means coaches with established records in the big seat on the sidelines. But it also means consideration of some of the most highly regarded assistant coaches, including those still working in the postseason such as Denver’s David Adelman, Minnesota’s Micah Noria, Boston’s Charles Lee and Dallas’ Sean Sweeney.
The Lakers are also considering JJ Redick, a broadcaster/podcaster, despite his lack of coaching experience beyond his son’s youth team in New York City.” Woike wrote.
Kenny Atkinson and Mike Budenholzer, both of whom have previous head coaching experience, are also under consideration.
Mike Budenholzer Is Betting Favorite to Land Lakers Job
Oddsmakers have installed Budenholzer as the favorite to land the Lakers coaching job due to his previous NBA head coaching experience. LeBron James.
Draft Kings Sportsbook has Budenholzer as +225 favorite to replace Ham with Redick (+260) and Lue (+290) not far behind him.
Budenholzer led the Bucks to their first NBA Championship in 50 years with Giannis Antetotokounmpo, whose transition game and power plays resembles James’ style.
Lakers Openly Smitten with Ty Lue
According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the Lakers top choice is Lue if he becomes available.
“The Lakers have been openly smitten with the idea of getting Ty Lue,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on “The Lowe Post” podcast on Tuesday, May 7.
Lue was James coach in Cleveland when they won the city’s first NBA title in 2016. They went to three NBA Finals together.
“That’s his guy,” an anonymous NBA executive told Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney on April 30. “Out of all the coaches LeBron has ever had, the one he singles out is Ty. Now he is in a position where he has free-agency on his side and he can maybe force the team to do something to get his guy if he gets fired.”
But Lue has already made his intentions known to remain with the Lakers’ crosstown rival Clippers.
“I don’t really have a comment on that,” Lue told reporters after losing to the Mavericks in the first round last week. “I mean it’s great to be wanted you know that’s a really good feeling but like I said I want to be here and hopefully we’re able to solidify that.”
