The Los Angeles Lakers are once again on the hunt for a new head coach following the firing of Darvin Ham. While speculation has been rife about potential successors, Tyronn Lue and Jason Kidd are unlikely candidates, despite their names swirling in the rumor mill.
Despite rumors, don't expect Tyronn Lue, Jason Kidd to be Lakers' next head coach https://t.co/sCecU7f6tV
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) May 6, 2024
Ham’s departure stemmed from various factors, including player disengagement with his strategies and organizational attempts to rectify past roster decisions.
Who will take the reins of one of the league’s most challenging positions?
Neither Lue nor Kidd appears poised for the role, primarily due to their existing contractual obligations. Both coaches are committed to their current teams for another year and are not anticipated to be let go.
Lue, addressing Lakers rumors after the Clippers’ playoff exit, expressed his desire to remain with his current organization for the long term, citing a positive relationship with management and ownership.
Similarly, Kidd is reportedly on the verge of extending his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks, aligning with the team’s aspirations for continued success, as reported by Marc Stein. Even in a hypothetical scenario where either coach expressed a desire to leave, their current teams are unlikely to release them, especially to a conference rival like the Lakers.
While the Lakers could theoretically pursue a trade for either Lue or Kidd, the cost would likely be exorbitant, potentially involving multiple first-round draft picks. Given the Lakers’ need to fortify their roster around star players LeBron James and Anthony Davis, such draft assets are deemed more crucial for team rebuilding efforts than acquiring a head coach.
Both Lue and Kidd share connections to James, whose future with the Lakers remains uncertain amid contract negotiations. The Lakers’ eagerness to retain James could influence their coaching search, with the leaked names indicative of the organization’s proactive stance, albeit with unrealistic expectations.
Despite Lue and Kidd being off the table, other candidates have emerged, including former NBA head coaches Mike Budenholzer and Kenny Atkinson. As the Lakers continue their search, the likelihood of prying away a star coach from another team remains slim.
