The Los Angeles Lakers have officially parted ways with head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons together. Following a disappointing and underwhelming year, Los Angeles has decided to go in a different direction for the leader of their coaching staff. While Ham did have some impactful moments during his tenure — including winning the inaugural In-Season Tournament — it was clearly time for the two sides to move on.
As the Lakers now start their search, there have been a few names already mentioned as candidates to replace Ham, per The Athletic's Shams Charania. This search to replace Ham is expected to be extensive, with the organization looking for its third coach since 2019.
The Los Angeles Lakers have parted ways with coach Darvin Ham, and sources tell me and @jovanbuha an extensive search will commence soon, with candidates such as Mike Budenholzer, Kenny Atkinson, JJ Redick and, if he becomes available, Ty Lue among others.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 3, 2024
Here are five potential head coaches who could replace Ham heading into this crucial summer for the Lakers:
1. Tyronn Lue
Lue is currently the head coach for the Los Angeles Clippers, but there has been speculation that he could become available if they were to flame out in the postseason again. He is the best option for this Lakers team due to his familiarity with star LeBron James.
One of the biggest knocks against Ham during his time with the Lakers was his inability to make in-game adjustments promptly. Lue has been a mastermind at doing this since taking over the lead job with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. He could help maximize the potential of this roster while giving the Lakers arguably one of the best coaches in the entire NBA.
Also, Lue was almost the Lakers' coach back in 2019, before they signed Frank Vogel and he went to the Clippers.
2. Mike Budenholzer
Budenholzer helped the Milwaukee Bucks win the NBA title in 2021 so he would bring championship experience to the table. He also helped guide the Bucks to strong regular seasons in each of his years with the team. However, he essentially would be Ham 2.0, which could prove to be unwise if the Lakers were to hire him.
The former Bucks and Atlanta Hawks coach was a mentor to Ham, teaching him much of what he brought to the table with the Lakers. While his experience may be what Los Angeles is looking for, hiring Budenholzer would be more of the same that they just had with Ham.
3. Kenny Atkinson
The former Brooklyn Nets head coach was a finalist for the Lakers job in 2022 before the job was given to Ham. Los Angeles could circle back to him this time around, especially after he has gotten more experience being on the sidelines. Atkinson has been working as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, gaining valuable experience from Steve Kerr.
His run in Brooklyn didn't end very well once they brought in star talent. However, Atkinson is seen around the league as a strong development coach so the Lakers may look to bank on his potential to help this team. His experience won't hurt his chances but Los Angeles can likely do better.
4. JJ Redick
Redick has become one of the hottest names on the coaching market due to his basketball IQ. He has transitioned over to podcasting since retiring from the NBA, including starting one with James in recent weeks. Redick could be a good fit for the Lakers, even with his lack of experience in coaching.
We have seen other former players be given a chance to coach without any experience, including Steve Nash and Jason Kidd. Los Angeles may want someone with more experience this time around, which could hurt his chances. But the connection he has with James could prove to be to his benefit if the Lakers are open to hiring him.
5. Becky Hammon
Lost in all the noise surrounding the Lakers is Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon. Since taking over the Aces, she has led them to back-to-back championships, showing her winning ways. Like Redick, she would be coming in as a first-time NBA head coach but her experience in the WNBA could prove to be beneficial.
Ham has also worked in the NBA for years under San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, being an assistant coach from 2014-22. Popovich was molding Hammon to take over San Antonio once he retired but she decided to pursue her own chance with the Aces. Hiring Hammon would break barriers for an already historic franchise but who better than a legendary organization, which is run by Jeanie Buss? Hammon should be considered for this job as she has been one of the better basketball minds for a long time.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Matt Levine works as a contributing writer for Newsweek, covering multiple sports. He graduated in 2021 with a Master of ... Read more
