Former Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts became the first of the three reported finalists to have an in-person interview for the Lakers‘ coaching vacancy, writes Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times.
Stotts, who coached 10 years in Portland before parting ways with the organization last offseason, is only interested in the head coaching role, sources tell Woike. He informed Lakers management that he doesn’t want to join the team as a lead assistant if he’s not hired as the head coach. Stotts turned down an opportunity to take a lead assistant’s role under former head coach Frank Vogel last season, Woike adds.
There had been rumors that L.A. would consider making Stotts an assistant if it hires Ham, who would be a first-time head coach, tweets Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
Among the reasons Vogel was fired was a disappointing season for Russell Westbrook, whom the Lakers expected to form a Big Three with LeBron James and Anthony Davis when they acquired him in a major trade last summer. Stotts is intrigued by Westbrook’s talents and believes he can help him find a more comfortable role than he had this season, according to Mark Medina of NBA.com (Twitter link).
Bucks assistant Darvin Ham and Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson are expected to meet with the Lakers soon. Scheduling an in-person interview with Atkinson is complicated because Golden State is in the Western Conference Finals.
Stotts, Ham and Atkinson are the only finalists that have been reported for the position, although a source told Marc Stein this week that the Lakers may still be considering other candidates. Sixers coach Doc Rivers and Jazz coach Quin Snyder have been mentioned as possibilities if they were to become available, but there has been no indication that’ll happen.
In a separate L.A. Times story, Woike and Broderick Turner review the qualifications for Stotts, Ham and Atkinson and examine the arguments for and against hiring each of them.
Cool story bro.
Doc Rivers has the best resume to coach superstars
Rivers has been coaching and leading the Boston Celtics, Clippers, Sixers.
1,043-735 in the regular season
104-100 in the playoffs
Celtics Big 4
KG, Pierce, Ray Allen, Rondo
Clippers Big 3 and Big 2
CP3, Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Kawhi and Paul George
76ers Big 3
Embiid, Simmons and Harris
Embiid, Harden and Harris
Rivers Playoffs Success
Rivers has not past second round for the last 10 years. His team is always trade away all the future first round draft picks.
1. Rivers past the first round 2 times with Chris Paul in 7 years
2. Past first round with healthy Kawhi and George
3. Past first round with Embiid and Simmons
4. Past first round with Embiid and Harden
The following 4 players are not good enough to past 2nd round playoffs
Chris Paul
Paul George
Simmons
Harden
They are waiting for Doc. Probably Jeanie and Harris discussing compensation.
I would think it to be quite easy to find an important & productive role for Russ, I mean if a coach can’t make the most of one of the best players in the history of the game… maybe coaching ain’t for him, right?
Lol, maybe five years ago. Dude can’t even hit the backboard these days.
I thought Stott did a good job coaching Portland without having a solid defensive team. And he had Carmelo and still won. And he might attract Lillard to LA. I believe they could make the playoffs with him. But I would rather see LeBron choose the coach and watch the Laker’s miss the playoffs again.
Stotts has the pedigree for b this type of team, both experience-wise and roster-wise. They need to get one or two good 3&D guys and Stotts can make the most of their mess.
Please trade for Doc
Great job Lakers! Just that the team needs- a first time head coach…SMH.
I mean, it worked with Jack McKinney.
The Lakers’ problem is the roster. The roster changes and specifically the trade for Westbrook were a disaster.
I don’t know how LeBron does it sometimes. Other than Spoelstra (who at the time himself was an up and coming coach) he’s had no legitimate coach to really lead him or actually teach him anything about basketball. Not that he needs it but from his perspective it’s gotta be so frustrating. The guys Basketball IQ is insane and he’s expected to conform to systems with mediocre coaching at best and follow their lead. Everyone already thinks he’s LeGM so let’s just let him LeCoach as well.
Sorry, I have never bought into “the genius of Spoelstra” spiel. In terms of utilizing personnel alone, the team has won in spite of him. He literally forgets who he has on his bench, whether it is from substituting and giving a player a break, or in general
And his coaching in this series has been a classic example
Look, I have no idea who has the guts and knowledge to coach today’s multi millionaire player
There are no Riley’s or Jackson’s or Popovich’s anymore. And with that in mind, this coaching search is a facade. It’s going to be LeBron’s choice and that just can’t be a good idea
Lol it’s funny how everybody think Doc a great coach how many rings does he have I think 1 if I recall and he had a big 4 to win those lol.