The Lakers plan to interview David Blatt for their coaching vacancy, sources tell Marc Stein of ESPN.com, who writes within a story on the Warriors granting the Lakers permission to interview assistant Luke Walton. L.A. is also interested in Doug Collins, Stein reveals, additionally confirming the team’s interest in Kevin Ollie.
Blatt, the ex-Cavs coach, apparently met Monday with Knicks president Phil Jackson about New York’s coaching vacancy, and the Kings have reportedly reached out to him about their job, too. The 56-year-old Blatt has less than two seasons of NBA experience at any level, though he put up an 83-40 regular-season record with the Cavs, who fired him in January, just seven months after he coached them in the finals.
Collins, 64, has been an ESPN broadcaster since the end of his coaching stint with the Sixers in 2013. He’s 442-407 in parts of 11 seasons with the Bulls, Pistons and Wizards as well as Philadelphia.
The Lakers have strong interest in Ollie, Stein hears, and that appears to be mutual. The 43-year-old has never been an NBA coach but won an NCAA title at Connecticut and was an NBA player for 14 seasons, the last of which with Oklahoma City, where he was teammates with 2016 free agent Kevin Durant and 2017 free agent Russell Westbrook.
Jeff Van Gundy, Ettore Messina, Jeff Hornacek, Roy Williams, John Calipari, Jay Wright and Tom Izzo are others in whom the Lakers have interest, according to previous reports. The Lakers would like to make a hire before the draft and want their next coach to be able to attract marquee free agents, as Sean Deveney of The Sporting News reported earlier this week and as Stein confirms.
I am not throwing shade on Like Walton because the future is bright for him. I guess I just continue to struggle with the notion that someone who doesn’t even have a coaching style established is the hottest coaching candidate. I mean Brad Stevens is young how er he earned some stripes at Butler. He had a style. He brought hat to he NBA. I know Steve Kerr had immediate success but he inherited a team that was primed and prepared by another man given three years and then fired? Not to mention he resurrected a program who was down for twenty plus years.
I really hope we don’t hire blatt, just don’t like him. I want Messina.
I want Kevin Ollie
I want Jim Buss to step down and coach the team. :) Kidding of course
What is the Lakers fascination with fired Cleveland Cavaliers coaches? First mike brown then Byron Scott and now David blatt. Blatt has no connection or respect from NBA players he’s a very big NO
We need someone young with fresh new ideas. I don’t think a ton of experience is necessary with this team , the old ways of the NBA is going away. We need a risk taker who can motivate and develope our young guys while also having fun.
Luke Walton, Jay Wright, would be at the top of my list. Kevin Ollie should get a good look at as well.
I don’t mind Izzo or coach K if we could pry them away but I doubt it.
Mussina makes me nervous still.
Blatt will be an amazing hire. If the Knicks won’t snatch him first.
VanGundy and Calipari would be best to develop young talent and attract free agents. We know Walton can run a Ferrari on cruise control in someone else’s system but who knows what he can do with his own team especially in LA. Need to get someone young and experienced players will respect and will coach his system to his teams talent as Pat Riley did and attracted free agents.