Celtics assistant Sam Cassell is among the candidates to become the Lakers‘ next head coach, according to Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic, who describe Cassell, James Borrego, and J.J. Redick as the team’s “initial leading targets.” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Monday that Borrego and Redick are “names to watch” in Los Angeles’ head coaching search.
A former All-Star and three-time champion as an NBA player, Cassell transitioned to coaching in 2009. He spent five seasons as an assistant with the Wizards before spending the next decade coaching under Doc Rivers, including stints with the Clippers from 2014-20 and the Sixers from 2020-23. He was hired by the Celtics as Joe Mazzulla‘s lead assistant last spring.
According to reports from both Charania and Buha at The Athletic and Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Lakers’ initial round of head coaching interviews is expected to focus on candidates the franchise doesn’t know as well and hasn’t previously vetted. After speaking to those candidates, the Lakers will move on to talking to the ones they’re more familiar with before eventually narrowing the full group down to a smaller pool of finalists, per ESPN.
In addition to Borrego, Redick, and Cassell, potential candidates like David Adelman, Kenny Atkinson, Micah Nori, Chris Quinn, and Sean Sweeney have been linked to the Lakers. Here’s more on the search:
- Sources tell Charania and Buha that the Lakers are seeking a coach who can command the locker room and hold players accountable. Their ideal candidate would also “tirelessly game-plan and provide a level of structure and organization,” according to The Athletic. Wojnarowski and McMenamin add that the term “grinder” keeps coming up in Rob Pelinka‘s conversations with people around the league about what he’s looking for.
- While the Lakers are hoping to have LeBron James around for at least one or two more seasons, they’re “placing a premium” on finding a head coach who can maximize Anthony Davis‘ talents, per Charania and Buha. “This should be more of a hire about AD than LeBron,” one source told The Athletic.
- Longtime Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski is serving as a useful “unofficial resource” for the Lakers during their search process, multiple sources tell The Athletic. Krzyzewski has a level of familiarity with a number of the candidates L.A. is considering, including former Blue Devils sharpshooter Redick.
Cassell would be a good hire I think. Here is hoping they make another poor decision instead lol
I’m wondering why it is taking so long for Sam Cassell to be a candidate. Is he lacking in certain qualities or he has a bad agent or he is happy as an assistant or? Really not sure what it could be.
Maybe he was being picky?
He seems like such a legit option.
As much as I would hate to see Sam leave Boston, he is definitely a fantastic choice to lead the Lakers.
This over JJ
The Lakers aren’t coachable in this current form. Someone’s will be breathing down the neck of whomever takes the job.
The expectations are far to unreasonable. They are expected to play every game like they are going to win the championship in June.
The best health that A.D. and LeBron had in the last 5 years is what fueled a playin berth.
Having said that Mark Jackson best exemplifies what this article says the Lakers are looking for.
Just make Lebron the Lakers first playing Coach. He likes that in his resume…lol
Agreed. I said the same thing. He’s the only coach he will listen to
There’s only three coaches in this league that I believe can coach the current Lakers team: Pops, Kerr, and Spoelstra. Anyone else is just doomed to fail. A coach who can command respect and their attention. A coach who won’t tolerate or enable egos to dictate team play.
There’s this other guy named Phil.
#1 criteria for Lakers HC is low salary. Thats why Lue wasnt signed few yrs back. #2 criteria is the head coach has to be willing to report regularly to Rich Paul and LBJ. Thats why only first time head coaches will go there. Vogel made it work because he leveraged it to get $31m payout from the Suns.
Whatever happened to Brian Shaw or Fisher? Do they just have too much personal issues off the court?
Cassell is the way to go
Guess the choice will be up to LeBron. This franchise has been an embarrassment since Dr. Jerry passed, bubble championship notwithstanding.
LeBron haters cry more than they accuse Bron of crying lmao
Lebron apologists can’t think their way out of a paper bag. LMAO.