Bucks assistant Darvin Ham is the only finalist for the Lakers‘ coaching vacancy without previous head coaching experience, but he apparently has the support of LeBron James, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. “He’s the guy LeBron wants,” a source from a rival team tells Pincus.
Ham, 48, also has the advantage of a previous relationship with the Lakers. After his playing career ended, his first NBA job was an an assistant coach in L.A., where he stayed for two seasons before joining Mike Budenholzer‘s staff in Atlanta and later in Milwaukee. Ham possesses a strong personality and plenty of energy, and Pincus believes he could be the best choice to motivate the Lakers’ veteran-laden roster.
Assessing the other finalists, Pincus calls Terry Stotts the “safest choice,” but says he’ll need an experienced assistant to handle the defense, and he views Kenny Atkinson as a “wild card” with a reputation for being rigid in his approach to the game.
There’s more on the Lakers:
- None of the finalists inspire any excitement, in the view of Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times, who says the Lakers need to find a way to acquire Doc Rivers from the Sixers. Rivers still has three seasons left on his contract in Philadelphia and recently received a vote of confidence from president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, but Plaschke cites rumors that Morey would prefer Mike D’Antoni, especially in the wake of the Sixers’ second-round exit. Plaschke theorizes that the Lakers would have already hired Rivers if he weren’t under contract with another team.
- Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and Nets GM Sean Marks were seen meeting at the NBA Combine this week, tweets Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog. While no details of the conversation were made public, it’s worth noting that the Lakers had internal discussions about acquiring Kyrie Irving before he resumed playing in January. Marks is also very familiar with one of Pelinka’s head coaching finalists, having hired Atkinson during his first year in Brooklyn.
- The Lakers are part of a growing list of teams that have lined up a workout with Iowa State guard Izaiah Brockington, per Spencer Davies of Basketball News. Brockington wasn’t invited to the Draft Combine or the G League Elite Camp, but he has already worked out for the Hawks and sources tell Davies that as many as 14 teams are interested in seeing him in action. The Lakers don’t have any picks in this year’s draft, so they would have to trade for one or hope to sign him as a free agent if he goes undrafted.
Ham + Westbrook = Rivers + Harden
= championships ?
I don’t buy LeBron things
*Glen Rivers
The “ one BRON BRON wants” he would then be last on my list. Look what he did to them this year.
Last time they got Vogel instead of who Bron wanted (Lue or Kidd) – how did that work out? Maybe LeBron James knows a little more about basketball than Rob Pelinka and some fool on a chat site.
Kyrie for LBJ. :)
Lakers should look at Isaiah Mobley, I dont know if he’ll fall out of the second round but if he does he should have many teams interested. I dont see his name on any of the mock drafts but Id be surprised if teams don’t draft him.
He has a nice shot, plays like Jabari Smith a little with hitch in his three point shot but it drops. He can handle the ball, has a nice mid range game and is tough in the post.
Doc Rivers is not a good coach for any team. The fact that Moron prefers Pringles Man to him is proof.
Superstars want to play for doc. Sadly for the Lakers no assets to acquire doc.
Sillivan?
If the Lakers honestly want Doc, 2 1sts and his contract is voided. Say thanks and drive the man to the airport. Then hire Atkinson or promote Sam.
Lol at suggesting Rivers would be a good hire. Glenn must really schmooze the reporters because it is incredible how many of them carry his water.
Plashke wants other people to supply him with excitement.
The conference semifinals are more exciting than missing the playoffs.
Im coo w Ham as it comes with the covet of probably selecting younger players going forward
There’s still a spot for Melo in the Nba it’s just not with the Lakers
Ham will push more, maybe that get’s RW going a tad (*if players will run w him)
A wing AND perimeter defender are musts, lady luck will also have to be in the room if 23′ is to be anything.
Jeanie needs to put down the newspapers this offseason and not travel in comment sections. They won’t be kind and rightfully but they’ll provide no lessons or value for our future.
Blank slate mindset , there’s still some good bones in this house
“He’s the guy LeBron wants”. Color me surprised.
Ham would be my choice of those 3.
Yes, in this instance, I go with the devil I don’t know, because of what I know (or think I know) about the other two. Stotts is just a jovial front man. Atkinson was the right guy in the right place in BKN when they had no players good enough to have an ego, and were building from scratch with little draft capital and no expectations. The same myopia that helped him there, hung him with KD/KI headed team, and would likely do similar with LAL.
Plus, Ham, in his first job, isn’t going to just hand the clipboard to LBJ/AD, he’ll want to make an impact.
Note to Jeanie: If Ham (in particular) is hired, then make sure he’s empowered to coach the team, and he knows it and who he answers to in the FO. I know he’ll be the first LAL employee to be and know such since you took over. But since he’ll be new, it’s a good place to start.