The Lakers intend to interview Bucks assistant coach Charles Lee for their head coaching vacancy, having requested permission to speak to him, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium (Twitter link).
Lee, 37, played four seasons at Bucknell from 2002-06 prior to making international stops in Israel, Belgium and Germany. He started his NBA assistant coaching career in 2014 with Atlanta, and has spent the past eight seasons working with head coach Mike Budenholzer, winning a championship with Milwaukee last season.
Lee was reportedly a finalist for head coaching jobs in New Orleans and Washington last summer, and he has continued to receive interest this season. Within the past month, he has interviewed for the positions in Sacramento and Charlotte. The Kings ultimately hired Mike Brown to be their new head coach, but the Hornets’ lead job is still vacant.
The Lakers have now interviewed (or are expected to interview) Lee, fellow Bucks assistant Darvin Ham, Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin, Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson (formerly the head coach of the Nets), and former head coaches Mark Jackson and Terry Stotts for their head coaching position.
I know it’s the Lakers, and it’s a storied franchise, but who in their right mind would want this job? You’d have to believe it’s going to be your only ever shot.
Whomever takes it will have to coach a player (Russ) that doesn’t listen, deal with Rambis and Jackson micromanaging, and Klutch. Oh, and you *know* you’re taking the wrap when the best friends club’s plan goes south.
Lakers have a very small margin of error next season. Lakers expectation is flawless.
Let’s say Charles Lee is a Lakers head coach.
1 year contract
Every game
Phil Jackosn can point out his mistake.
Magic Johnson can point out his mistake.
Rambis can point out his mistake.
LeBron can point out his mistake
Westbrook can point out his mistake.
……
Lakers goal is Championship, this guy could take down Lakers and Lakers could miss the playoffs.
All true, but, still, most members of the NBA coaches club who don’t have a job or a better possibility will want the LAL job.
The guys in this club joined for a reason ($$/status that comes with being an NBA HC), and they know the deal: when hired, they’ll be far more a front man and/or a fall guy, than a real basketball coach, and they’ll be retained or fired consistent with that – but, the good news is, that, if fired, they still get paid for the balance of the contract, and since everyone knows they were just the fall guy, they can keep going back to well and be hired again and again. I’m sure they don’t want to be fired, usually, but the possibility of it happening through no fault of their own is not a reason not to seek the job. This is their business. Not bad work if you can get it.
How about Brian Shaw, Byron Scott, Avery Johnson, or Derek Fisher ? :)
Let’s be honest
Lakers can’t even beat Clippers next season
Clippers have 15-man depth
Westbrook is just too much for Lakers
This is becoming a really drawn out process to eventually just hire Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers annual salary $10 million (8+2).
76ers pay $5 million and Lakers pay $5 million? No.
Rivers get $22 million from Clippers for working for 76ers.
Rivers may want all $24 million remaining from 76ers for coaching Lakers.
What a mess a franchise is when they start interviewing so many guys… I mean you must know the guy you want, right?
If your interest goes beyond 2-3 guys at the very tops, it just shows how lost & confused you are!
Need to check Phil’s meds. Wants to keep Westbrick and trade Bron.