In 2020, less than two years ago, Frank Vogel was on top of the world. He had just clinched his first ring as Head Coach and helped the Los Angeles Lakers win their 17th NBA title. He had arguably the best duo in the league at his disposal, Anthony Davis and LeBron James dominated together in the Bubble, and the Lakers looked set to win at least a couple more titles.
Fast forward to 2022, and things are nowhere close to the same. The Lakers find themselves outside the play-in spots and any hopes of a playoff berth, let alone success, seem like a pipe dream right now. Roster changes and injuries to AD have dictated a significant part of that, but Vogel’s own failure to get wins out of a team that still has some talent in it has also been a contributing factor, and he has known for a while that time for them to do well has been running out.
Calls for his head have persisted throughout the season, and now it seems like the end of this season will herald the end of his time with the franchise as well. According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Vogel is expected to part ways with the Lakers organization over the summer.
“Now, as the finish line for this tumultuous 2021-22 campaign mercifully arrives, the Lakers are still expected to part ways with embattled play-caller Frank Vogel, sources told B/R, and the anticipated vacancy on Los Angeles’ bench has produced no shortage of potential candidates linked to fill the position,” Jake Fischer wrote.
The same report has even mentioned potential replacements for Vogel in the hot seat of the NBA’s most storied franchise, with Sixers coach Doc Rivers touted as a possibility.
Doc Rivers has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Lakers and Jazz head coaching position, per @JakeLFischer pic.twitter.com/nkE2EyF1nR
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 5, 2022
This would be a sad end for Vogel’s tenure, one that could have been truly historic, but the organization needs to make major changes ahead of next season if they wish to contend once again. If it does happen, Vogel will hardly leave alone, several players will likely not make their way back onto the roster next season.
