Inside the Lakers coaching search: Will they learn from problems of the past?

This wasn’t the purple-and-gold fashion of the Lakers‘ “Showtime” extra. This jacket was two different colours — black and blacker.

Rob Pelinka, his salt-and-pepper stubble conferring a further shade of graveness, wore it Monday as he talked in regards to the first huge determination of the Lakers’ offseason — the firing of coach Frank Vogel.

“We expressed gratitude for the three years of with the ability to work along with a capability of belief and collective mindset and collaboration,” Pelinka mentioned, “and simply let him comprehend it was a degree within the Lakers historical past the place we felt prefer it was time for a change in our management voice.

“And people are tough issues to do.”

Within the grand scheme of the Lakers’ offseason, although, letting go the coach was the straightforward half. Discovering somebody who can higher lead them than Vogel, who gained an NBA championship two seasons in the past, gained’t be straightforward.

The ruins of the Lakers’ season nonetheless contemporary in his reminiscence, Pelinka laid out the plan for this search amid controversy in how the staff dealt with Vogel’s firing, the information leaking on social media moments after the ultimate sport of the season.

“We simply felt prefer it was time for a brand new voice,” Pelinka mentioned. “And that’s to not say something in opposition to the unbelievable accomplishments that Frank Vogel’s had. He was an important coach right here and he’s going to go on to be an important coach elsewhere. We simply felt prefer it was time for a brand new chief.”

Now the Lakers are again in an all-too-familiar place, going through a large determination surrounded by different monumental questions. Three years in the past they had been hiring a coach within the wake of Magic Johnson’s shock resignation as staff president of basketball operations. Now they’re combating a picture drawback across the NBA and a leveraged future with LeBron James, the last word win-now participant, getting older and, seemingly, extra inclined to accidents.

“There’s simply a lot optimism serious about the place we’re as a franchise proper now,” Pelinka mentioned on Could 20, 2019. The Lakers had simply employed Vogel after a dramatic teaching search and nobody may share that optimism.

Right now, the Lakers face the identical challenges as they attempt to discover some goodwill after a 49-loss season and Vogel’s embarrassing exit.

These within the league with data of the state of affairs count on Toronto’s Nick Nurse, Philadelphia’s Doc Rivers and Utah’s Quin Snyder to be candidates ought to they develop into accessible. Former Portland coach Terry Stotts, former Oklahoma Metropolis coach Scott Brooks, former Lakers coach Mike Brown and Utah assistant Alex Jensen additionally is perhaps thought of. Identical for Juwan Howard, who interviewed in 2019, though sources instructed The Occasions that his intention is to proceed teaching Michigan, the place two of his sons play.

The massive query is, who can they get?

These with data of teaching conditions across the league say the Lakers’ popularity isn’t good — issues about meddling, too many voices, suspect contracts and apparent roster issues creating an equation that has them working from behind.

“Is the Lakers’ job that enticing?” one teaching agent requested, talking on situation of anonymity due to the delicate topic. “I’m not so certain it’s. However somebody will take the job.”

It’s, in any case, the Lakers, a marquee franchise that’s the heartbeat for a lot of Southern California. The climate is nice and the legacy will be too — the possibility to work for a similar franchise as Invoice Sharman, Pat Riley and Phil Jackson. On the most base stage, there are solely 30 jobs to be a coach within the NBA, and shortage could make folks compromise.

It’s not unattainable for the Lakers to get their man.

Three years in the past, they in the end selected Vogel — a profitable coach, a gifted trainer and a steadying presence.

But when Vogel was a ok alternative for Pelinka and the Lakers, they wouldn’t be on this spot once more so shortly.

So, right here they go once more.

After the Lakers fired Luke Walton, days after Johnson resigned in a surprising, impromptu information convention exterior the locker room on the season’s ultimate day, the Lakers had been on shaky floor.

James had simply completed his first season as a Laker, lacking the playoffs for the primary time since 2005 whereas enjoying alongside the group’s future — younger gamers drafted by the Lakers who can be sacrificed later that summer time to accumulate Anthony Davis.

The day the staff formally minimize ties with Walton, two names shortly pushed to the entrance of the organizational want record — Monty Williams and Tyronn Lue. Howard, then a Miami assistant, additionally was seen as a candidate, although not on the identical stage as the 2 former NBA coaches. Jason Kidd additionally scored an early interview.

Williams had labored with James as an assistant coach on Workforce USA. Lue proved that he may win a title with James, the 2 guiding Cleveland to a championship in 2016.

If there have been questions in regards to the candidates, there have been equally huge questions in regards to the staff. Johnson’s resignation and subsequent claims of back-stabbing made the Lakers look unstable. League insiders thought James and his agent, Wealthy Paul, quickly may have even higher affect with Johnson gone.

Magic Johnson hugs a buddy after saying he’d be resigning as Lakers president of basketball operations in April 2019.

(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Occasions)

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And even when the Lakers had been capable of commerce for Davis, may they make a play for one more prime star like Kawhi Leonard?

Quickly, folks with data of the state of affairs mentioned there have been grumblings in regards to the entrance workplace‘s enter on staffing selections and, maybe, technique.

Williams shocked the group by accepting the teaching job with the Phoenix Suns, who weren’t near being the NBA title favorites that they’re at this time. It allowed the Lakers to deal with Lue, a beloved former Laker with probably the most expertise teaching James.

All indicators pointed towards the Lakers hiring Lue, however the negotiations turned contentious. Cash and contract size had been at difficulty. And, to a lesser extent, so was staffing.

It was the uncommon time when experiences of the edges “finalizing a deal” didn’t finish with a deal.

The Lakers had been shorter on years and money than Lue anticipated. The staff additionally wished him to have former head coaches on his workers. The Lakers urged Vogel, whom Lue was involved in working with. Additionally they pitched Kidd, who had no earlier relationship with Lue.

First, Lue balked. Then, as discussions haplessly continued into the subsequent day, the Lakers pulled out.

Individuals with data of the state of affairs mentioned Lue was supplied a three-year deal price $18 million, a contract size generally used for first-time coaches. A 12 months later, the Clippers would give Lue a five-year deal price $35 million to interchange Doc Rivers.

The Lakers shortly regrouped and solid a wider web for candidates, together with Vogel, Kidd and Lionel Hollins, every a former coach. The staff employed Vogel three days after the fallout with Lue. Kidd and Hollins ended up on his workers.

Russell Westbrook, middle, is flanked by Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, left, and coach Frank Vogel whereas addressing the media throughout his introductory information convention in August.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Occasions)

Seventeen months later, after a season that included tragedy and a shutdown pressured by a pandemic, Vogel celebrated into the early morning hours as an NBA champion.

That title couldn’t defend him from being fired two disappointing seasons later.

Final Monday, Pelinka articulated the opening traces of his job description for the brand new Lakers coach when he was requested what qualities he wished. After saying his reply wasn’t meant to be seen as a shot at Vogel, Pelinka made the case for a extra forceful coach.

“When it comes to what this staff wants proper now, we really feel like with, clearly, superstars on our staff, we would like a robust voice that’s capable of encourage the gamers to play on the highest stage of competitors each evening,” Pelinka mentioned. “And I believe that’s going to be one of many resounding qualities that we search for by way of holding everyone from the highest participant on our staff to the fifteenth man to a level of accountability. And that’s going to be one of many many traits that I believe jumps out at this time.”

Making a transfer shortly isn’t a precedence, he mentioned.

”We need to discover the precise particular person. I believe that’s a very powerful factor,” Pelinka mentioned. “I believe all issues thought of, it will be nice to have somebody in place by the draft. However our course of might be thorough and methodical, and we haven’t even begun to place collectively a listing, or focus on who the alternative is.”

The final time the Lakers had been on this spot after firing Walton, it took them a month to seek out his alternative. This time, the expectation is that the Lakers will see who is accessible because the playoffs unfold, their prime choices nonetheless teaching groups underneath long-term contracts.

Identical to in 2019, there’s roster uncertainty — a number of draft picks already traded away and a trio of superstars that had been both injured or struggling to discover a profitable formulation with their co-stars.

Lakers star Anthony Davis, middle, holds his ankle as he’s flanked on the bench by an injured LeBron James, left, and Russell Westbrook.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Occasions)

There once more are issues about front-office affect in staffing and decision-making. Following misplaced revenues from the pandemic, a meager one-year extension for Vogel and a refusal to go deeper into the luxurious tax to maintain Alex Caruso final offseason in free company, some folks with data of the state of affairs have monetary issues.

It’ll be on Pelinka and different members of Lakers administration, together with co-owner Jeanie Buss, to ease these issues.

Requested on Monday if he was fearful the fallout of Vogel’s firing would hurt the Lakers, Pelinka projected excessive confidence.

“The Lakers franchise is among the most revered in all of sports activities throughout the globe and I believe that can stay to be the case,” he mentioned. “And we’ll put the work behind it to guarantee that’s the case. As a result of once more, that’s what our followers count on.”

Now, the Lakers must discover a method to ship.