9:20pm: The Lakers have “no current plans” to fire Vogel, sources tell Brad Turner and Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. This response certainly reads less like an emphatic denial of the rumor that Vogel is on the hot seat for Los Angeles, and rather a half-hearted vote of confidence.
Turner and Woike reveal that Los Angeles GM Rob Pelinka and Rambis spoke with Vogel and assistant coach David Fizdale following the team’s 125-116 loss to the Kings last Wednesday about figuring out how to improve the team’s on-court results, their third such meeting recently.
Rambis subsequently attended a Lakers pregame coaches meeting this past Monday for the first time this season and pushed for reinserting traditional centers Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan into the team’s rotation, despite both players not inspiring much confidence in their play to this point in the 2021/22 season.
8:40am: Frank Vogel was coaching for his job on Monday vs. Utah, according to Bill Oram and Sam Amick of The Athletic, who hear from sources that there’s a real chance the Lakers‘ head coach would’ve been let go if the team’s losing streak had extended to four games last night.
Oram and Amick report that Vogel “narrowly avoided being fired” after the Lakers’ 37-point loss to Denver on Saturday and that he continues to be evaluated on a game-to-game basis, meaning he’ll likely remain firmly on the hot seat going forward. It’s not clear to what extent Monday’s victory relieved the pressure on him, The Athletic’s duo writes.
The Lakers’ decision-makers are keeping a close eye on the situation and monitoring whether Vogel still has “command of the locker room,” per Oram and Amick.
Vogel has been under pressure for much of 2021/22 campaign, with Lakers executive Kurt Rambis informing the coaching staff in the fall that there was a mandate to right the ship after an underwhelming start to the season, sources tell The Athletic.
Shortly after Rambis conveyed the front office’s message, Vogel entered the health and safety protocols and missed six games. The Lakers went 1-5 under David Fizdale and then won four straight games when Vogel returned, which seemed to bode well for his job security. However, that streak was followed by three consecutive losses, including Saturday’s embarrassing blowout in Denver.
The Lakers, projected in the preseason as the favorites to come out of the West, currently have a 22-22 record and are in play-in territory at No. 7 in the conference.
Los Angeles has had to deal with a series of injuries that have hindered the team’s forward momentum. LeBron James has missed 11 games; Anthony Davis has been unavailable for 17 games and hasn’t played since December 17; and Kendrick Nunn, who got most of the team’s taxpayer mid-level exception in the summer, has yet to make his debut.
If the Lakers continue to fall short of their expectations, Vogel would be a convenient scapegoat. Despite leading the franchise to a championship in 2020, he had just one year tacked onto his current contract when he signed an extension in the offseason, so he’s only locked up through the 2022/23 season.
Bron has to be player coach
Is he a better coach than GM? Cuz he’s pretty terrible at putting a roster together. This awful roster has his name all over it.
So Pelinka had nothing to do with it and shouldn’t be held responsible? Okay…
You think Pelinka wanted to make the horrible Westbrook trade? That had Lebron written all over it.
Actually several front office personnel from lakers didn’t want Westbrook but pelinka pushed through anyways. Pelinka needs to be taking the heat foe this roster
Ironmonger do like being supported by nothing? LJ’s name how? You think he was friends with RW? You think he was comfortable with being able to influence RW like he could with Kuzma or Pope? Did you not note the lack of enthusiasm when Teasas acquired? Where are your supporting comments from the principle players?
Not from this article, or any others… but it’s your job and other CLOWNS to find proof and you don’t.
He should be to a small extent, but it’s well-publicized that Bron and AD got Westbrook to LA. Melo and Howard too, probably.
Stars recruit players but Pelinka signed the contracts. The people blaming LBJ either don’t get it or just want to hate on him. If Lebron and AD picked this roster that means Pelinka needs to be fired immediately. The first part of being a GM is convincing the owner and players to let you make your moves. If Pelinka can’t do that, bring in someone who can get it done.
That’s not how it works in the nba, Lebron picked this roster, it’s all his friends, Pelinka and Vogel will be held responsible but they are just 2 guys riding Lebrons coattails and everyone knows that
Convincing diva players and owners to buy into what’s smart, is the main job of every GM. In every sport. The NBA is more star driven but that makes a backbone even more essential.
Pelinka has no GM experience and it’s shown from day 1.
He took a team with future Allstars and traded them for a player that was coming to LA anyway. Someone like RC Buford or Masai Ujiri could have convinced Lebron to wait. Trade away assets for draft picks and then use that to make trade upgrades. The Lakers have the $, they should have signed Lebron and AD to year to year deals. If they leave so what, it’s the Lakers and another star is walking through the door to take their spot.
Sources, please, clown.
I meant parx & richt.
Ot is possible Vogel broke a tie and chose RW, convincing Buss to make the RW call, thus the Vogel hot seat, as he gets blame from the boss. Maybe. But the organization-stated purpose for RW was to have two stars on the court always despite injuries or covid and that sounds like Pelinka. LJ like most stars battles potential replacements.
Vogel is not the problem
GM and Westbrook are
Trade Westbrook for any players not name Simmons and Wall
Talk to Kings and Rockets
Right – the Kings with nothing but guards want another overpriced guard and the Rockets who dealt him away would be interested in taking him back. Uh huh.
Shut up with lebron doing this and that. Enough already
Guess someone has to take the blame for LeBron’s poorly constructed roster. Lol. Another coach fired cuz of Bron Bron…
I despise the Lakers and I’m no fan of James, but how many coaches got fire due to him?
At least David blatt and Paul silas
Blatt misused KLove and lost the team. It is hard to stress alert defense when the star wants to go for the throat. A doomed weird Gilbert choice, like Beilein. One bad coach after another. At least Bickerstaff is okay in a passive way, runs double high post.
LeBrons teams won the championship after he had Blatt and Walton fired, so he’s earned the right to do so. Pretty hilarious how people pretend the Cavs didn’t go on to get much better with Blatt gone.
Are you kidding? Blatt had coached the team to a 30-11 record upon being fired; Lue finished the season 27-14. I understand Cleveland went on to win the Finals that season, but who’s to say that was due to Blatt getting the ax? He had led the team to the Finals the year prior and won a respectable 2 games. That was one of the most unjustifiable firings in league history
“I understand they went on to win the finals” completely invalidates your last sentence. No one would choose the mediocre head coach who has spent the bulk of his career overseas over the ring.
You’re acting like they couldn’t have won the Finals with Blatt. You have absolutely no idea because he never received that specific opportunity. Based on the fact that Blatt put them in position the year prior and Lue failed to ever win the Finals again, it would be valid to assume a similar outcome could have been reached had Blatt been coaching the team
What’s your point? Yeah,LeBron has the coach killer narrative. My point is that’s not a bad thing since the 2 times he did it, they won the Finals in the immediate aftermath. So he has earned the right to know when it’s time to get a new coach
My point is that acting like firing Vogel is going to solve problems is ridiculous. We should just get rid of anyone the second things aren’t going well? Perhaps the struggles have more to do with the awful roster construction in this case
wow do we view bron if lakers miss the playoffs this year?
year 1: missed playoffs
year 2: won title in bubble
year 3: first round elimination
year 4: ???
im a bron fan btw. just starting a dialogue
Things go bad when you let LeBron make roster moves. He always does this and then bails afterwards
bubble series dont count so its been a failure especially if they lose in playoffs
What are you talking about? Of course the bubble counts.
Every team was on the same Level Playing Field. Were some teams not included in the Bubble? Some teams play more home games or not have to partake in bubble restrictions? Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a championship of full recognition.
No cross-country travel through time zones makes a 7 game series a LOT easier. That’s a huge reason not enough people cite when talking about things that happened in the bubble. Plus no fans, which is a smaller factor than most think. That title is forever tarnished.
Lol it’s not “tarnished”. There’s no A
asterisk to it. It was a level playing field and the best team won.
The conditions were beyond anyone’s control and the bubble was the only way the playoffs were possible.
Your stupid excuses won’t “tarnish” it. So keep crying about it. It won’t change anything.
Many look back at the Bubble about the same as they do the annual TBT money tournament on ESPN – a championship, yes, but…..
The Bubble champion will always have an “asterisk” attached to it, deserving or not.
I know for a fact that players even laughed – still do – at some of the numbers put up in the Bubble.
In my view, somebody had to win it tho… may as well been the Lakers.
It counts in the record books!
Do “many” people actually believe this, or are you just saying that to support your argument?
Call it what you want. I can’t say what I really want to because there’s people on here that don’t like that “I played”. hahahaha
Or who I’m privileged to have daily conversations with. Hell, I probably shouldn’t even be on here myself and just leave it to you ladies and gentleman, but I try to interact because… why not? It’s basketball!
But, when you ask that question and someone actually up-votes it, they’re not doin that because it was a helluva question. They’re doin it because it was your response TO ME, as if that brings me down to everyone else’s level. I truly cannot help it that I comment from a place of experience where many on here can’t. I can’t change that. You can’t either. It is what it is.
Btw…. I thought EVERYBODY on here played???
Jumpshot I’m with you. I played one year but it was just JC ball. Best year of my life though LOL.
Even though I was the 15th man on a 15-man team I still had a great time playing ball everyday and traveling Etc. I wasn’t good enough and got cut in my second year and that was that. Pick up ball player the rest of the way.
And yes I have a couple people “in the know” that I talk to regularly. Makes the info a little more legitimate. But you can’t let on where you get it or else that info stops. So keep doing what you’re doing jump shot.. I like your posts.
Don’t jump off your ego; you might crash to your death
jump shot you had the worst point; nothing personal. Clue: if the word “asterisk” is ibcluded, it’s prob a bly the worst point. Also: comparing anything NBA to the TBT is going to be be the worst point, for choosing extremism. As for personal, it does all sound fringe, with spots of bitterness.
BTW the bubble was an awful experience and the parties in it were happy when it ended and they could finally go home to their houses and support groups. Harder, not easier, overall. Players & coaches could not say “prison” but said similar
Uh, some teams were not included in the whole bubble season. They were not good teams, but just sayin’.
Yes Steve you’re right about that. Overlooked on my part that the lower group of teams not included.
As long as AD can’t play at a high level, the Lakers are doomed, regardless.
Just dump Vogel and get it over with. Game by game means he is one more bad loss or 2 game losing streak from being fired. How do you coach or play under those conditions? More evidence of dysfunction/incompetence at higher levels of the organization.
Agreed. But the coach is not the problem. The ghost of Red Auerbach could not make this dog hunt.
Who can they realistically get at this point who will be any better?
Lebron wants his buddy Fizdale coaching.
Because Fizdale has done/is doing such a fantastic job
the minute pelinka decided not to resign caruso….. nail in the coffin
I think AR15 will be better than Caruso in a season or two.
Vogel was good enough a coach to win a title a couple of years ago, and now he’s forgotten how to coach???
This has everything to do with horrible roster decisions, the most egregious of them being trading all of their quality depth pieces for a guy who is a terrible fit next to LBJ in Westbrook.
I think this is the end of the Lakers window to compete, and it won’t matter who the coach is unless the roster is rebuilt to play to LBJ’s strengths.
Vogel was given a old team. Who to blame is the GM for rushing through a team to win 2 years ago. Trading away your best young up and coming players because some super star wants to win now. Everyone knew they gave up the future for their 1 championship.
Anybody would trade there young core for a championship what are you talking about teams build for years and no championship’s Lakers will win another one before 90% of the league lol go away bro we can’t win them all I just want to see them play hard and be healthy for the playoffs if we miss it the #1 problem is can’t ever get your team on the court period
Every team’s excuse is injuries not allowing them to win a championship. lakers did build for right now and there was never a 5 year plan. Why do you hate a honest reply? Blaming Vogel for a team past their prime should be on the GM shoulders. LeBron will be joining the Cavs once his contract expires. Watch and see.
Watch and see if we win another Chip before 90% of league being patient with their young players I’ll take winning chips and trading all your assets for chip for some reason we always seem to find ourselves in a position to win championships can’t win them all hahaha Go Lakers
Very, very complicated situation.
Seems like nobody has the answers.
Vogel can’t get these guys playing consistently.
LeBron is doing his best, even playing Center.
But their defense sucks.
Anthony Davis can’t stay healthy. A (lways) D (amaged).
And they have only THT to try to make a trade.
Vogel is a good coach. He always has been. This won’t solve their problems. Whoever they hire next year probably can’t either unless they totally revamp the roster.
LeBaby and his assembled collection of washed-up sidekicks assigning another figurehead coach to be the fall guy for their own ageing problems. Who woulda thunk it?
It won’t work, just like LeBaby’s fraying glued on fake hair in his desperate attempts to cover his growing bald spot.
Lebron makes ALL personnel decisions including HC. Everyone in the locker room knows this and this is what Vogel has to work with.
Then why wasn’t Lue hired? That is reportedly who LBJ wanted as coach.
LeBron preparing for Homecoming The Sequel with Bronny.
Trade away all your depth, then fire one of the best coaches in the league. Can’t stop rolling eyes (and feel sad for the Lakers fans)
No one can get Westbrook to stop shooting pull ups. No one.
The bench can stop him
Pelinka should be gone. People can blame Vogel and LBJ but Pelinka signed off on every roster move. He treats the Lakers like a sports agency, recruiting the biggest stars he can get. He either can’t make good trades or tell Lebron no. Both are reason enough to give Pelinka his papers. Blame Lebron but he’s a player and it’s the GM’s job to build the roster. Jerry West wouldn’t let a player dictate the roster. Pelinka has been out of his league the day he took the job
I mean let’s not give Vogel to much credit. The season they won was a pandemic shortened season. It honestly should of an asterisk the players had lots of time to heal up. Lebron full strength. And I think a few things fell his way in playoffs to not play the Clippers.
The heat beat the bucks as well. Those 2020 Lakers against the bucks or clippers lose. The heat were the perfect matchup.
Actually, most of the 2020 season was in the bag by the time the stoppage came in mid-March. And unlike this year, that season was played in a completely normal fashion. I would say this season has been far more crippled with all this protocol stuff, (taking entire starting line-ups off the court at times), than it was having to play a tournament in a bubble where everyone had the same handicap. If the bubble year deserves an asterisk, I’d say this year might deserve two.
So the Lakers players were the only ones that had that extra time before the bubble to “heal up?” I must’ve missed the fact that the Lakers were allowed to stop playing and rest up before the other teams in the bubble. The circumstances were the same for every team that was in the bubble, therefore no distinct advantage was given to any team. There is no asterisk, stop with that.
Pelinka needs to take heat for this roster. He’s been radio silence this whole time. Most of his moves haven’t panned out. Traded mcgee to sign gasol. Let Howard walk to sign Harrell, let rondo walk. Let caruso walk, let markieff morris walk who was a min guy and had size. Traded Danny green and pick for schroder only to allow schroder to walk without any assets coming back. Traded a pick with depth to get Westbrook. Picked up drummond. Lot of bad moves by Pelinka.
I will say the moves you mentioned were so
Minimal. McGee for gasol is w/e.
Howard/Harrell is what ever
Rondo whatever
Marrief is whatever.
Now Danny green and a pick for schroeder not a dan.
Schroeder had 0 value as evident by is really this off-season.
Drummond again Drummond Howard it’s all the same a back up big man.
A lot of their defensive identity went with those moves. Gasol was a cluster when mcgee gave rim protection and pick and roll action.
Harrell was unplayable during the playoffs as an undersized 5
Rondo was the 2nd unit qb
Markieff was a 2nd unit enforce with size. He was a min guy and now lakers have zero size.
Danny green was inconsistent on offense but played defense and everywhere he goes his teams win with his championship dna.
Schroder was a cluster. Win a ring with lebron as pg only to replace him for schroder. Ball shouldn’t of been out of lebrons hands
Drummond- trash
Caruso- let him walk for nothing but have to replacement for him defensively.
Won’t be the first time Bron fires a coach…
This is what Lebron does his teams win a championship and are in cap hell
Pelinka traded nothingness for Westbrook. Kuzma Harrell KCP weren’t helping them win a championship. Westbrook at least had a chance
Nothingness is better than Russell Westbrook’s negative ratings. I’d trade him for anyone of the 3 LA gave up, and save money in the process. You can hate Lebron but Pelinka built this team.
Every nba star recruits and gets a voice in the process. It’s Pelinka’s job to convince them to buy in to the best decision.
joe their problem is depth… these nothings add up to something. Only a couple stars are needed to win a title.
Vogel is one of the NBA’s few real HCs, and, in one sense, deserves better than being blamed for not being able to win more with the group(s) he’s actually had available for games. Then again, being the Fall Guy is part of the job, and Vogel has been through it before. On the positive end, he gets paid the balance on his deal, and, because he’s clearly blameless for the real problems with the LAL roster, he’ll likely get hired by another team when he wants to work again.
Just trade Westbrook mainly but also bazemore dj they got two first round picks left and 2 secound round picks include tucker if you have to try to get Myles turner Justin holiday and Jeremy lamb or buddy hield and Harrison Barnes or devante graham and jonas v convince pelicans pacers or spurs to take Westbrook since they wanna make rhe playoffs anybody is better than Westbrook lebron need people who can score and defend And don’t let lebron choose no bad 3rd star no more
At least try out John wall he can score and got a jumpstart and if he get hurt then okay put lebron at guard he need to be full time point guard vogel is bad at lineups if u don’t trade Westbrook cuss that man out and bench him play him only 25 min don’t play him in 4th tell him to stop shooting and cut to basket they treating him like a baby scared to hurt his feelings greg pop , thibs or any other coach would bench him and play him less minutes
You know the Lakers are in major trouble when Rambis name comes up
Mandate? Gimme a break……. How bout as an executive you step up and burden some of the blame
I love Magic32 but he needs to lay off as well. He had his shot calling shots and failed miserably
Firing Frank would be a huge mistake
I wouldn’t say magic failed miserably. He signed lebron. He signed kcp, mcgee, rondo, caruso.. drafted kuzma. Lebron and Rich Paul got Ad. Magic was the main architect to the title roster. Pelinka thinking hes smarter than everyone else gutted that team than proceeded to gut last years team. Pelinka track record isn’t good. Not one of his moves have worked out. He needs to be fired
Magic was horrific in all honesty, this is no secret league wide. He even hinted it was over his head as well when being showed the door
He had nothing to do with LBJ coming and has nothing to do with drafting which has been stellar the whole century with or without him
Rob has made mistakes, some big ones in all honesty, but I trust him a lot more than I ever did with Magic. He got the AD deal which lead to a title…how quick we forget
Magic wasn’t shown the door he found the door himself and walked out of it. He didn’t like the back door politics going on and it wasn’t as fun for him with basketball being a business instead of being fun. Magic’s moves provided more wins than Pelinka’s have. Not saying all of Magic’s moves were good and I’m not saying all of Pelinka’s are bad, but who guts a team that just won a championship other than the Florida Marlins? He hasn’t built this team properly and the Westbrook trade has been a disaster so far. If he let LeBron make that decision it’s not Lebron’s fault, it’s his for allowing the inmates to run the asylum. I still think this team could get rolling once AD comes back and make a run through the playoffs if they’re healthy but overall Pelinka is the one that should have the hottest seat in the building other than Westbrook.
Tell me again how great this roster is and how good of a move the Westbrook trade was.
Wow…! A lot of LBJ hate around here, right?
All I can say is that LBJ is playing the best season of his career, yeah best season of his career at 37, how can anyone think that doing so is getting the useless HC he has, fired, is just beyond me!
What difference does it make if the won Monday? They’ll lose the next game. The Lakers are complete garbage, and the coach doesn’t deserve the blame. The blame falls on LeBron for constructing this roster and the team deserves everything they’re getting right now
This really isn’t all his fault tho…