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Lakers targeting Nick Nurse as next head coach
Credit: Shams Charania
The Athletic
After a failed season that started with a draft-night trade heightening championship expectations and ended outside of the postseason, the Lakers must re-evaluate everything, from their decision-making to how they surround two All-NBA pillars to their coaching staff. And changes are coming.
The Lakers fired head coach Frank Vogel on Monday. Among the franchise’s top targets for the position, multiple sources tell The Athletic, is Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse.
In three seasons as Lakers coach, Vogel helped lead the franchise to the 2020 NBA championship and had a 127-98 record. But these Lakers have been searching for a new voice, and Vogel, who is entering the final year of his contract, saw defensive slippage and had his voice wane throughout the season.
Nurse, who led the Raptors to a championship in 2019, signed a multiyear contract extension in 2020 and has two years left on his deal. It’s unclear whether he will be attainable or whether he would have interest, but the Lakers are hoping the former Coach of the Year is an option with the allure of coaching James and Davis and the appeal of the Los Angeles market. To acquire Nurse, the Lakers would need to receive permission from the Raptors and likely engage them on a prospective trade. Over the next several weeks, expect several other candidates to emerge, including University of Michigan coach Juwan Howard, who interviewed for the opening in 2019.
Ten months ago, when the Lakers acquired Russell Westbrook on draft night, the storied franchise was expected to compete for its second championship in three years. The big three of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Westbrook met multiple times prior to the trade, finding a vision on joining forces and the sacrifices necessary to win. There were questions about the fit, but James was very confident that the three future Hall of Famers would find a way to win.
It ended in disappointment: Although injuries and COVID-19 breakouts occurred, the Lakers should have been far better than their 33-49 record and 11th-place finish in the Western Conference. James, Davis and Westbrook never found chemistry together, the roster lacked youth, athleticism and 3-point shooting, and the coaching staff could never discover a consistently winning group all season. Even more, the Lakers’ inexplicable losses to the league’s worst teams came back to bite them. They had seven total defeats against Oklahoma City, Portland, Sacramento and Indiana prior to the All-Star break and a loss to Houston post-All-Star break. That’s eight wins that could have changed the course of the season … coulda, woulda, shoulda. Add in two post-All-Star break losses to New Orleans — the ninth seed in the Western Conference and set for a home Play-In Tournament game against San Antonio — and these Lakers only have themselves to blame.
Now, what comes next?
Every team across the NBA would salivate for the James and Davis pairing when both are healthy; it’s on Lakers management and ownership to find the supporting cast to fit around them and the coaches to lead the roster. James, who is eligible for a two-year, nearly $100 million extension this offseason, and Davis will work to get their bodies fully right in the offseason and maintain health throughout the 2022-23 season.
Throughout the NBA, teams are also keeping an eye on how the Lakers manage the Westbrook situation. Westbrook has a player option for $47 million this offseason, which he is expected to pick up. Westbrook remained a professional throughout the season, but his partnership with Vogel failed to gain traction as the season went on. In an early-season film session, assistant coach David Fizdale challenged Westbrook on his shot selection, and the two had an animated exchange, sources said. That was one of the instances when Westbrook was challenged by a coach or teammate, and the style the coaching staff envisioned for Westbrook did not match what took place on the court.
When Westbrook met with James and Davis prior to the blockbuster draft-night trade last year, sources say the league’s all-time leader in triple-doubles assured them he would accept any role given to him and be willing to adapt based on critique. The outcome of the season shows a common ground was not found.
The Indiana Pacers could emerge as a potential suitor for Westbrook, rival executives believe, but any trade involving the former NBA MVP will be complicated due to his massive salary and the Lakers’ next available first-round draft pick being in 2027, which the franchise will prioritize and thus be prudent in deciding the best route with Westbrook. Two other routes for Westbrook could be keeping him or discussing a contract buyout.
The Pacers are building around Tyrese Haliburton, but rival teams expect them to be open to trade conversations around Malcolm Brogdon and Buddy Hield this offseason. Hield has two years and $40.4 million remaining on his deal while Brogdon has three years and nearly $68 million. If Indiana wants to shed future salary, could it view the Lakers and Westbrook’s expiring deal as a match?
Westbrook said last week his plan is to return to the team next season but admitted it was not guaranteed because of the business element of the league.
The roller-coaster offseason begins.
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Originally Posted by Mr KLC
