Next Lakers Coach Candidates

Personally, I think Lakers will keep Byron Scott for another season, beyond this one, for 2 reasons:

1. This year was Kobe's farewell tour, and Lakers' management realizes Scott's ability to develop players and achieve results was compromised. I believe they feel they owe him another chance, to see what he can do when there are no more excuses or distractions.

2. Mike Brown, D'Anthony and now B. Scott - firing a 3rd coach in almost as many years sends a message to the league about the competence of Lakers' front office. Lakers FO is already heavily criticized by everyone, so the last thing they want to do is give the same incompetence impression to their peers. They will wait another year, to make sure everybody sees they gave B. Scott a chance, so the firing would look more justified

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Having said that, I remain optimistic and look ahead, ignoring the fact B. Scott is likely to live another day, and I'd like share my personal top choices for Lakers' next coach:

1. Tom Thibodeau - Defensive minded, well respected by players and peers coach, who can hold young players accountable and who did a lot with very little in Chicago. Many of his teams did not have a good roster, D. Rose was injured a lot, and yet his team always made playoffs and contended well

2. Kenny "The Jet" Smith - Former player from a team with a winning culture (Rocket, Olajuwon era). Kenny wows me every time with his basketbal IQ when I see him on TNT. The insights he provides are often so simple, they leave me baffled how come I did not think of what he just said myself. He's got the experience, the IQ and the passion for the game - I think he'd make an excellent coach

3. Kevin Ollie - Former player, proven winner with excellent college coaching record, known as a "players' coach" he connects with guys on every level

4. Becky Hammon - One of the best former stars of WNBA, high basketball IQ, currently serving as right hand to 'Pop, so she knows his tactics and coaching style inside out. You wouldn't mind these young Lakers playing like the Spurs, would you? If given the opportunity to become the first female coach in the NBA history I cannot imagine anyone ever, working harder than her

5. Luke Walton - I keep saying to myself Warriors' record is no indication of Walton's coaching abilities, because they were already a well oiled machine, one of the best teams ever, before he became interim head coach, and that he's too young. However, I also watched him on these Lakers for many years, and while he wasn't great athlete or a shooter - he does have a high basketball IQ and for the most part, the team was playing better team ball, when he was out there. I think he deserves a shot to show what he can deliver. As a former Laker, he's close to everyone in the front office and he's a local - his family is from San Diego.

https://twitter.com/ericpincus/status/700089187198865408

Unfortunately this is more on the lakers ownership than the front office. They are "TOO" emotionally attached to the lakers past.

Look more justified? He is about to complete the worst season in franchise history, besting his previous effort from last year. He lets Kobe shoot 25 shots on any given night, refuses to criticize Kobe when he shoots 14 3's in a game. "Maybe it was too many". Yet can't wait to berate the youngsters in the media reports.

D'Antoni and Brown both got less time than Scott!

If I was a coach I'd rather the FO straight up tell me, we made bad hires in the past and they were fired because we needed to change direction. Than to ride out a bad coach and post another miserable record. If I was looking at that from the outside I would consider the FO to be weak and pathetic.

My Top 3 Realistic Candidates

1. Scott Brooks: I think he showed that he can really develop young players. Not just Harden, Westbrook, & Durant but I feel like a lot of other young players really excelled playing with him and that he brought the best out of them. OKC never won a ring but he won a lot of games and made players better. He's my first choice.

2. Kevin Ollie: I Have read a lot of good things about him and I think he does a good job with UCONN. He's still relatively young and has NBA experience. I think that he'd do a much better job communicating and relating with the young guys than Scott does now.

3. David Blatt: Another guy that I think would be a good option. Without a star calling the shots I really think that he can form a good offense.

This is REALISTIC targets. I didn't have Ime Udoka or Engellend from the Spurs because I doubt either would come. I doubt JVG or Mark Jackson is leaving their comfortable jobs at ESPN to take over this mess either.

1. Engelland/Udoka/Messina/Hammon - Basically someone from Coach Pop's coaching tree.

2. Kevin Ollie/Sean Miller - A college coach with a great track record would be perfect for the team of young guys that we have right now.

3. Walton - I can't say I'm 100% sure that he'll be a successful coach just yet, but I wouldn't mind giving him a try.

4. Scott Brooks - Has shown that he can develop young players, coach defense, and is well liked by KD and Westbrook.

5. Natalie Nakase - Is currently an assistant with the Clippers and IMO has a bright future ahead of her.

Of all mentioned, and being realistic, only Brooks is on the short list. Ollie won't come here. Walton will go to Phil, or stay where he is to learn more about the job. Blatt is a maybe. hard to know with him. Jet? Uh, no. He's a TV lifer. Tom T, he's going elswhere. Probably Minny.

Jim Buss is the Lakers' director of player personnel, his brother is a director of scouting. Jeanie is the president of the team. When you say "more on ownership than FO" it sounds a lot like you're suggesting Lakers' ownership (plus Mitch) and FO are not the same thing, LOL

Are you actually saying that Becky Hammon would refuse a head coaching job with the most storied and decorated sports franchise on the planet, if offered one?

Steve Lavin

Thanks for the great response, but when I say ownership: the owner ship is controlled by the 6 children via a trust, however the head of the food chain is Jeannie who is also the president of the lakers. Kupchak and Jim can be fired by Jeannie and not the other way around. Mitch does not have an ownership stake in the franchise, he is just the GM. So yeah technically I'm pointing fingers at her just like I did when she awarded Kobe the contract out of emotion. Fwiw according to various reports the front office was against giving him that contract before he came back from that Achilles injury, but the ownership had the final say. LOL

I don't think there is any doubt that Jeanie was behind Kobe's ridiculous $48.5m/2 years contract, when he was about to turn 36 and coming off 2 major injuries. I've read mutliple reports it was her decision and I believe I personally heard her confirm that during one of the tv interviews last year. I read Jim was opposed to that... That's what you get when an emotional former Playboy playmate/cover girl runs a multi-billion dollar famous sports franchise...

Yup, now you're living in the past. Storied franchise no more. With little high prospects going forward. Why would she want that job rather than sit next to the top NBA coach of all time and learn and wait for him to retire then take over his team?

Exactly..!!!

And why women should never be allowed in men's sports executive roles. Or to be President of the US. Oooops did I just say that out loud? lol

Let me just play devil's advocate for a minute here. Let's say that she's next in line for the job, how good of a job will it really be? Duncan is likely retiring soon, Ginobili is close to done too, Parker/LMA/West are all 30+. The only good young assets you have are Kawhi and Danny Green. So in a way you'd have to think of it like D'Angelo, Randle, Clarkson, Nance Jr., Brown, and Simmons/Ingram (if we're fortunate enough) vs Kawhi, Green, Kyle Anderson, Patty Mills, and others. Which one seems more appealing?

I don't think she'll take over the Spurs. I read that Ettore Messina is the front runner to take over for Pop when he retires. Assuming he does not take a coaching job somewhere else.

You're assuming the Spurts won't do their magic act and slide new players in to replace the old. As they always have, almost seamlessly. You're also underestimating the FO effect. Which FO would you rather work for? And would you want to jump on the Lakers coaching carousel? And get sucked into the Hollywood machinery?

And now there is talk that she wants to bring her boy toy back to run things. God, I hope those rumors are false. Jim Buss gets far too much blame, I think of the two siblings, he is the one who is less prone to making emotional decisions and just wants what is right for the team. He's more like Dr. Buss than Jeanie. In these interviews, Jeanie just comes across as far too emotional. That's dangerous for someone in her position of power.

It's kind of a far-fetched conclusion that Becky would just "inherit" the job, after Pop retires, or even that he's going to retire any time soon. If Spurs do well in playoffs and have successful off-season in terms of re-enforcements - I can easily see him sticking around for another 5 years+. And when he does go - Spurs will create a list of coaching candidates to interview, and it's not even guaranteed she'd be on it, let alone get the job. If Lakers were to offer her head coach position in the summer, which is right here right now and also would pay literally x10 more than she makes in Texas as assistant coach - I'm willing to bet you ten grand she takes the job. No way she turns down HISTORY, of becoming first ever female head coach in the NBA, the money, LA spotlight and everything else there is to gain.

That could be true, the Spurs could reload. It's just tough to see them as a destination without Tim, Tony, and Manu there. Then again, I bet that was said about them when David Robinson was near retirement.

That's the regular argument I have in the bar with friends...lol. He reminds me a lot of his father and you never see him coming out with emotional outbursts or throwing others under the bus, heck I don't even see him defending himself and sometimes wish he would. Jeannie appears too reckless for my liking.

Luckily for Lakers fans, the hormonal therapy science has taken a huge leap forward in recent years. If she gets a few testosterone shots a month on regular basis - a growing mustache is a small price to pay for emotional stability.

LOLOLZ

The main question would be does she want the media attention that much. Look at how much attention the heat got with the big 3. For a closer comparison look at Danica Patrick with NASCAR. And she isn't even that good.

It is a huge risk and would make or break her career. With the intense pressure of win now regardless of the roster composition in LA would you want to work in that kind of environment?

Hiring a woman would have a lot of people automatically wishing for her to fail, as unfair as that is, it's still the truth. I just don't see why she would put herself under that kind of pressure regardless of how much money she would be paid.

There is pressure of expectations in *every* head coaching job, not just the Lakers...Even if it's a little higher in the big market like LA, I doubt that would deter her from taking it. She wants to be head coach, which means she welcomes that pressure, and she has enough self belief that she will succeed. There is a saying "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - she knows she may not get another opportunity. A single coaching stint isn't going to break any coach's career - very good coaches get fired all the time. This year alone 5 coaches were fired before all star break - part of the business.

I'm as big of a Becky Hammon fan as the next person. I loved her since her playing days. Like the female Steve Nash.

But I wouldn't call her Pop's "right hand" she sits behind the bench still. I think she still needs some seasoning but very much has a bright future.

If I'm poaching anyone off the spurs bench I'd start with chip Engelland and ettore messina rather than hammon.

If we are going the young guy route I'd go for shaka smart out of texas. The guy has a very similar coaching style to Brad Stevens of Boston and has a way of maximizing his players talent.

Other than that I'd stay away from guys like mark Jackson and thibs.

If the Lakers did offer her the job, it would be because they think she is the best coach out there. I don't think she thinks she has to take it or another one doesn't get offered. If anything, more offers would follow.

Yes a coaching stint may not define one's career but if you take the wrong job it certainly doesn't help.

As I said, it is extra pressure by taking a high profile team, in a big market AND being the first woman to do such a thing.

I don't know her personality so I can't say if that is something she would welcome, but if you go off the past 3 coaches you have 2 seasons to make it work or you're out. That is a huge danger sign right there.

My choice is Kevin Ollie but if somehow, some way PJ comes back, then it definitely will be Luke Walton because of the triangle period. JMHO.

Phil isn't coming back, at least not next season. The only way he would come back is if he's given the keys to the franchise, full control like he has with Knicks. He ain't gonna be a coach or anybody's assistant in the FO. That makes both, Jim Buss & Mitch Kupchak obsolete. Jeanie would have to fire both of them for Phil to come back, there is no way around that. I don't think she's ready to turn Buss family into Kardashian like drama, which is exactly what would happen if she fires her own brother in favor of her fiance.

Jim Buss' self imposed deadline will expire after next season, so he may resign voluntarily then. Only at that point, she might say goodbye to Mitch and bring Phil back.

Eff the triangle...

I had mentioned Shaka Smart before in another post. I think he would make a good transition to the pros and has as you said a great understanding of maximizing players.

Cmon man no love for the G.O.A.T???

Lmao!!!!!

I'm with you on Ollie, Walton and even Thibs. I also think there's a 50/50 chance Scott comes back. But not because of Kobe, I think he'll get a pass because he basically had a rookie team.

I like jvg or brooks.

Not really, they already had all the others at that point. Pop is the real draw there.

Thank you! She's not the top assistant there. She just became an assistant, why on earth would you want to give her the head coaching job. You

so we have the right coach! lol

ROTFL!!!!!....Hey I have the so called "1 Luv".....lol.

I don't know if you guys saw this, but there is this article on LakerNation about Lakers' FO direction in coaching search: Lakers Rumors: Team Wants Next Head Coach To Be ‘Recruiter-In-Chief’ As the Los Angeles Lakers begin the search to find their next head coach, the franchise will be looking at a number of different attributes that each potential coach can bring to the table. Guys like Luke Walton, Ettore Messina, and Kevin Ollie have all been mentioned as potential candidates. Some coaches are better at player development while others are great at communicating. Some coaches are great at in-game strategy and....

Unreal. Try and get someone to do what they can't. That's a sad admission right there. I think it's time for heads to roll right now. Another stinky season and there will be rioting in the streets.

Without Kobe, when they suck, there will be no reason to go to or watch games. Might as well watch Golden Girls reruns the next 3-5 years waiting for something to happen. Minus Kobe there is no draw. So yeah this offseason they better get something done. The fact Mitch can't get FA to come here is a shocking admission, tho no surprise to any of us.

My understanding is D Fish wants the job. No word on Walton. But if they want a recruiter, they need an NCAA coach who's used to doing that as part of the gig. I wouldn't be in favor of Fish as a head coach, but as an asst I'd say ok. I don't he or Luke are ready for prime time. Luke needs to be in a strong system. If he was smart, he'd stay where he is a few years to really get the training in. And then be a top level in demand guy. Right now he's just the flavor of the month, but a big unknown with a fresh start. A head coach can't do everything...recruit and teach a strong system and teach D and plan all the plays and problem solve, manage egos and the FO... and and and. That's why good asst are necc, and for some years now we have not had any good asst. After Bernie left, that was it.

You have a great point. I've been advocating for the Lakers to hire a college coach for a while now. They can better relate to, and are better motivators for, the youth that's on our team. On the FA front, they're probably more adept at that too. In college, a lot of what they do is recruit. They go into meeting with prospective players and help them understand where their place is in the system that they have. It definitely wouldn't hurt us to have someone that can be better at doing that. No more of this Hollywood/endorsement crap, we need someone to sell FA on our basketball culture and philosophy moving forward.

While he's not my 1st Choice, I think Luke will turn out to be a good coach given time. Hopefully he'll bring the right assistants with him if he does become the new coach. As far as Fisher, I think I'd rather have Shaw as an assistant over him.

Ollie: I believe he is a very young coach that clearly knows how to coach. I don't normally like college coaches making the jump, but to win a championship in your 2nd year is huge. We all know players around the league have a lot of respect for him. He would be good with our young players and other players would be willing to come play for him. Walton: another young guy who can develop. I believe he saw how to run an amazing offense is GS. he was not the "head coach" but he was doing that job and had them setting a record for wins in that amount of time. They actually won more under Luke than Kerr. He clearly knows what he's doing, most coaches probably would have messed something up and not had a record pace for wins. He's always had a great basketball mind growing up with a hall of fame father, an outstanding college player learning under Olsen, and always contributing in the NBA prior to his back injuries even though he had no athleticism. He was Also learning under the greatest coach of all time and won championships as a player and now as an assistant coach. Bonus: former Laker player. Fisher: ok, I'm not THAT high on Fisher, but he had a crappy team in NY and was doing a better job than the coaches we've had recently. He was also hampered by the fact that he was under Phil who wanted him to do things exactly his way. Fisher bought into the triangle but wanted to open things up more and ultimately was fired for it. He could have some good ideas. Also a championship winner that obviously knows the game. Would be happy if he was hired on as an assistant under....

Ollie: Yes

Walton: Maybe, but I just don't think he's quite ready yet.

Fisher: Hell no.

Williams: Yes.

Tibbets: Yes.

JVG anyone? Or the newly fired George Karl? Or David Blatt?

I'd be happy to get both. Feel sorry for Fisher, he could be a good coach but was in a horrible situation. Now he looks bad to everyone. He'll probably have to pay his dues and go be a good assistant for a couple of years before he gets another shot.

Personally don't want retreads. Or a European to be honest. Karl would fit the roster, but he'll never win a title, so pass. JVG has always been a good coach, he'll never win a title either so pass.

All the above mentioned coaches would be good, but we're talking about the Lakers, and we all know that they'll go for the flashy hot coach and that's Walton, whether he's ready or not.

And you know it....lol.