The Los Angeles Lakers have been without a head coach for over three weeks since the firing of Darvin Ham, with reports indicating it might be another three weeks until a replacement is hired. The list of current candidates does not include high-profile names like Pat Riley or Phil Jackson. Despite the prestige of coaching the Lakers, the job is viewed as less appealing due to various challenges faced by the head coach. An Eastern Conference executive cited benefits such as coaching top talent, nationally televised games, favorable scheduling, and the guarantee of future opportunities due to the Lakers’ reputation.
However, a Western Conference scout pointed out the disadvantages of the Lakers job, including limited resources, competing interests in the front office, unrealistic community pressure, and interference from superstar players. The front office is described as having two factions, the “Magic crew” and the “Kobe crew,” along with influence from the Klutch Agency representing LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The lack of a clear chain of command may deter quality coaches from pursuing the job. Coaches like Mike Budenholzer and Charles Lee opted for other opportunities rather than waiting to potentially land the Lakers job.
Despite these challenges, the Lakers job is still ranked among the top five in the league by some executives and scouts. The allure of Los Angeles as a market, the history of winning, and the ability to attract top free agents are cited as advantages. However, the downside includes stars like LeBron James having significant influence on team operations, compromising the authority of the head coach. The Lakers have gone through numerous coaches since the departure of Phil Jackson, with none lasting longer than three seasons.
The expectation for the Lakers is championship or bust, despite competition from younger, more talented teams in the Western Conference. The belief that the Lakers are capable of winning it all, largely due to LeBron James’ presence, persists among fans, media, and ownership. The franchise’s legacy of vying for championships is a key factor in the allure of the head coaching position. The Lakers’ head coach is immediately granted credibility but faces rigorous scrutiny in proving their ability to lead the team to success. The job is seen as a dream opportunity but can quickly become a nightmare due to the high expectations and challenges faced by the coach.
