Key Takeaways:
– Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd and Los Angeles Clippers’ Ty Lue have been removed from the Lakers’ list of potential new coaches.
– Kidd is predicted to receive a contract extension from the Mavericks soon after their successful seasons.
– Rumors about Lakers’ interest in Lue ended with him expressing his commitment to the Clippers.
– LeBron James is expected to re-sign with the Lakers, with discussions even extending to the maximum three-year, $164 million extension on offer.
Lakers’ Coaching Candidate Options Shrink
In the quest to replace Darvin Ham, the Los Angeles Lakers are seeing their list of viable coaching candidates shrink. Top choices Jason Kidd from the Dallas Mavericks and Ty Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers are the latest to be crossed off this growingly leaner list.
NBA expert Marc Stein confirmed that Kidd won’t be seizing any opportunities outside Dallas. Not only is he anticipated to stay put, but Kidd is also likely to sign a contract extension soon, a just reward for his successful track record during his tenure with the Mavericks, as reported by Stein.
The Lakers’ Expectations
The Lakers organization reportedly understands this and doesn’t seem to expect Kidd, who led Dallas to two 50-win seasons and three playoff series victories, to become available for hire. As for Lue, the expectations for his availability were similarly dismal.
Earlier this month, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Kidd was among three names linked to the Lakers coaching vacancy, the other two being Tyronn Lue and J.J. Reddick. A common thread between these candidates was their strong ties with Lakers’ superstar LeBron James.
Coaching Rumors Quashed
Contradicting the swirling rumors, Lue quickly dispelled the speculation about moving to the Lakers. Following his team’s first-round defeat to the Kidd-led Mavericks, he affirmed his commitment to the Clippers.
The End of Clippers’ Season
Lue was unequivocal about his stance after the Clippers’ season-curtailing 114-101 loss to the Mavericks. He expressed his desire to continue with the Clippers and looked forward to solidifying that position.
Among those with connections to James, Redick remains the only option on the Lakers’ list. Besides him, other prospective replacements are former Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson, and Boston Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee, as per reports by The Athletic’s Jovan Buha and Shams Charania.
Digging Deeper into Lakers’ Options
Interestingly, both Ham and Lee have been assistant coaches under Budenholzer during his time in Milwaukee and Atlanta. Furthermore, Lee and Redick are also considered serious contenders for the Charlotte Hornets coaching job.
James’ Likely Return to Lakers
The Lakers’ hunt for a coach is based on the assumption that James will return for the next season. Despite his public indecision about his $51.4 million player option, there are strong indications of him staying with the Lakers.
According to Stein, it seems highly likely that James will remain with the Lakers although the specifics are yet to be determined. The Athletic reported that the Lakers are open to any deal that guarantees James’ return, even the hefty three-year, $164 million extension they can offer.