Potential Lakers head coaching candidates may not even apply for the open position.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Clippers are currently considering extending head coach Tyronn Lue’s contract.
Lue, who has been the Clippers’ head coach since 2020, was expected to be considered for the Lakers coaching job after the team fired Darvin Ham on Friday afternoon.
However, according to Wojnarowski, the Clippers are “planning” to extend Lue to keep him beyond the 2025-26 season.
Lue led the Clippers to 51 wins this season, the most wins in a head coaching career since he collected the same number in 2016-17 with LeBron James and the Cavaliers. .
This year’s season didn’t go as expected for the Lakers, but that year they finished 47-35 as the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and won the NBA’s first regular season tournament.
But a year after Denver was eliminated in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers lost to the Nuggets in five games in the first round.
“We greatly appreciate Durbin’s contributions to the Lakers and value the many successes he has had over the past two seasons, including a remarkable run to last year’s Western Conference Finals. ” Pelinka said in a statement.
“We all want to thank Durbin for his dedication and positive attitude. It was a difficult decision to make, but after reviewing the season, we decided this was the best course of action. The organization will remain steadfast in its commitment to delivering championship-caliber basketball to Lakers fans around the world. ” A vacancy arose.
Aside from Lue, former NBA veteran and ESPN analyst JJ Reddick, ex-Nets coach Kenny Atkinson and former Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer are among the possible candidates for the Lakers’ open position, according to The Athletic.
The Clippers are still in the NBA playoffs, as they take on the Mavericks in Game 6 on Friday night, down 3-2 in the first-round series.