The Los Angeles Lakers have made it clear that Darvin Ham will be their coach for at least the rest of this season. Beyond that, however, all bets are off. According to a report by Lakers insider Anthony Irwin, Ham’s job security relies heavily on the upcoming playoffs, and whether or not the Lakers can at least make the first round.
“Per sources speaking on the condition of anonymity, Ham’s job is still very much safe this season, but if the Lakers don’t make the playoffs (meaning, secure the sixth seed or win their way into an actual playoff series), that could change as soon as this summer,” wrote Irwin. “Rob Pelinka’s focus is still squarely on this season, sources say, and conversations about Ham’s future have yet to truly commence.”
The Lakers hired Darvin at the end of the 2021-22 campaign. As the replacement for Frank Vogel, who led the Lakers to a championship a few years prior, Ham came in with pressure from day one and the Lakers trusted him to set the team straight.
But not even Darvin could make it work with Russell Westbrook and by the time the 2023-24 season rolled around, it was almost a completely different team. Unfortunately, at just 33-28 this season, this new roster still hasn’t been enough and the Lakers are starting to run out of options.
When pressed with his job security this season, Darvin assured reporters that there was nothing he needed to be concerned about. But according to this latest report, it seems even Rob Pelinka is starting to lose faith and he could opt for major changes if they fail to make a run this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers Have An Uphill Battle To The Title
We’ve seen the Lakers beat the odds many times before and last year is arguably the best example yet. They came into the playoffs as the 7th seed, and they were underdogs to even advance past the first round. Yet, somehow, they managed to surprise everyone and outlast all but three other teams.
The Lakers were hoping that their success would carry over into this season, but that just hasn’t been the case so far. Their big signing this summer, Gabe Vincent, has barely played due to constant injuries and he’s been one of many role-players who have been in and out of the lineup all year long
Defensively, Anthony Davis has carried the way for the Lakers but there are questions about how their backcourt will hold up against the likes of stars like James Harden, Stephen Curry, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
On the other end, as good as LeBron James has been for them, the Lakers will need a third star to step up and hit shots on the perimeter. Whether it’s Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, or even Rui Hachimura, someone will need to fill the role as that third offensive option for the Lakers.
Currently, at 9th in the West, the Lakers would have to win at least two play-in games just to advance to the first round but that will prove no easy feat with the Warriors, Pelicans, and Suns currently sitting comfortably within the play-in bracket.
Depending on how it all plays out, this could make or break Darvin Ham’s career with the Lakers and it may usher in a brand new era for the franchise. Either way, a lot is riding on these next couple of months and Ham’s very future hangs in the balance.
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