After ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and Substack reporter Marc Stein suggested earlier this week that Lakers head coach Darvin Ham isn’t in any immediate danger of losing his job, two more reports have confirmed as much — in even stronger terms.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss sent a “long text message” to Ham reiterating her support for him. Meanwhile, Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report says that both Buss and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka have informed Ham that his job isn’t in any jeopardy.
“I speak to Rob every day and we’re always discussing ways to improve our team and what we can do better as a coaching staff,” Ham told Haynes after the Lakers dipped back below .500 with a Thursday loss to Phoenix. “It’s an open dialogue that I embrace and that is helpful. We’re all trying to get this right and we will.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- As they scour the trade market, the Lakers are seeking “speed and quickness” in their backcourt, according to Haynes, who adds that the team would like to be able to play faster offensively and to acquire a guard who plays solid point-of-attack defense. Rival executives expect the Lakers – along with the Raptors, among others – to begin talking more seriously to Atlanta about Dejounte Murray in the near future, Haynes writes, though he cautions that the Hawks are making it known they’d be comfortable hanging onto Murray and revisiting his trade market in the offseason.
- The Lakers appeared to have broken out of their recent slump with victories over the Clippers and Raptors earlier this week, but Thursday’s blowout loss at home to the Suns was a discouraging setback, writes Jovan Buha of The Athletic. “I think it’s just a lot of holes in our system right now,” D’Angelo Russell said. “You use the regular season to figure those things out, the ups and downs, the digression, the setbacks, all these things. Injuries just keep playing a part in our success. … I think we can still find the light at the end of the tunnel. We just got to get better, got to keep getting better.”
- Lakers forward Cam Reddish, who missed games in December due to right knee and left groin ailments, continues to deal with leg issues. He left Thursday’s contest early after experiencing left knee soreness, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
- As part of a larger conversation with Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, Raptors guard Dennis Schröder looked back on the 2021 extension offer from the Lakers that he turned down. The guard’s former representatives advised him to pass on it, Fischer writes. “I would have signed it,” Schröder said. “I would never just leave money on the table. My mom didn’t raise me that way.” While reports at the time indicated the offer was worth $80MM+ over four years, Fischer suggested in a follow-up tweet that that figure may have been overstated.
Jeanie seems to only pop her head out when the suns up and overdresses the salad when the lettuce becomes dry
Zero confidence she can right this ship
Lakers won the in season tournament. They are the best team in basketball
I hope nobody thought that, especially the Laker org
Most reasonable minds saw the {easy} path they had-
Easy bracket~ esp w Booker/Ja out
They played 1 qrter of Top Dawg basketball (1st v Phx +12) lost last 3 qtyers handily by 9
New Orleans never got off the Bus
Ive watched a lotta Indy ball this year; that was a C-/D+ game from them if I’m being nice
Still, it was fun and I’m happy as a fan to have bagged the inaugural.
Was great for the NBA on the whole, anybody you drew conclusions up in pen afterwards, well that’s on them
Throwing away one more year of LeBron and AD, and a pretty good group of role players.
Horrible coaching on both ends of the floor.
Those 500k each player made in the IST probably didn’t help either. Too much partying and too little practice.
It all just shows on the floor, getting their butts whipped in the 1st quarter and never getting back in it.
Last year the team started taking things seriously too late, and didn’t have gas against the Nuggets. Looks like the same tale, being optimistic.
Ham has a job as long as LeBaby runs the team.
Kind of odd to refer to one of the most accomplished players in the sport, who still competes at a high level, as a baby? I’m no LeBron stan but I’m also not a total moron…
I’m a Stan Van stan tho. Handsome guy with an effervescent personality.
Murray would look good in LA. But who wants Russell at this point. Seems all he wants is an NBA check. Sorry talent …..
Murray, Saddiq Bey and Solomon Hill to LAL. For anything you want besides Lebron, AD, Rui. I’d rather keep Reaves and Wood, but not if that makes the deal fall through.
Then trade for Caruso and Pat Williams.
I assume KCP Is untouchable; if not, go get him.
Bruce Brown could be a good target.
Lastly, trade for Kennard, sign Bryn Forbes, AND give another shot (10-day, if he stays ready AND gives results when used, sign him for the remainder of the season) to Shaq Harrison.
Another guy, at the right price, is Kris Dunn.
Bring back that 2020 championship hounding-defense atmosphere.
Lol. Typical lakers fan wanting solid pieces for the lakers trash. Brown, kcp, Caruso, Williams won’t be traded. Forbes is out of the nba for a reason, he can’t guard my grandma. Doubtful grizz ship out kennard, they will be a much better team than the lakers next year. Think before you post
Hahahaha,
1) Brown already got traded brudda.
2) Forbes brings a threat from beyond the arc, abd that would be his role, a valuable one,the only thing asked to him. Who said anything about defense?
3) If anyone offered two 2nds for Kennard, Memphis should rush him to the airport.
The first sentence already made your point crumble.
“Think before You post”.
What usually happens when they kiss you on both cheeks… and give you the proverbial “vote of confidence”?
Lakers are the most over hyped mediocre team of all time. Homers always blaming the coaching or injuries or Westbrook. Lakers are just an average team but laker nation is delusional.