The Los Angeles Lakers are on the hunt for a new head coach, and they’re gearing up to start reaching out to potential candidates soon. According to sources, they’ll begin by focusing on assistant coaches and former head coaches they haven’t interacted with much before.
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ VP of Basketball Operations and GM, has been busy gathering information about various coaching candidates. One notable name in the mix is JJ Redick, who currently works as an analyst for ESPN. However, the initial round of interview requests will prioritize candidates who are less familiar to the organization or haven’t been part of previous coaching searches.
In Pelinka’s discussions with people around the league, he’s been emphasizing the importance of finding a coach who is a “grinder.” This term suggests someone who is hardworking, dedicated, and willing to put in the effort needed to succeed.
The list of initial interviewees is expected to include assistant coaches like Chris Quinn from the Miami Heat and James Borrego from the New Orleans Pelicans, among others.
The search process will unfold in stages. First, there will be this initial wave of interviews with less familiar candidates. Then, they’ll move on to talking to coaches with whom the Lakers have a history or more familiarity. Finally, they’ll narrow down the list to a final round of candidates.
The Lakers recently parted ways with Darvin Ham after two seasons. During his tenure, Ham led the team to a 90-74 overall record and a trip to the Western Conference Finals in his first season. However, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs this season after a five-game series loss to the Denver Nuggets.
