The Los Angeles Lakers’ search for a Head Coach continues with more reports coming out, but nothing concrete has occurred yet. For the most part, Darvin Ham, Terry Stotts, and Kenny Atkinson have been named as the candidates that have been shortlisted by various sources, but the Lakers’ initial ambitions were higher than that.
When Frank Vogel’s departure was first announced, the names being thrown around were championship-caliber coaches like Nick Nurse and Doc Rivers, while Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder was also mentioned. Nurse himself shut down the rumors about a potential move to the Lakers, while Snyder was reportedly put off by the way the franchise treated Frank Vogel on his way out.
Daryl Morey was the one to shut the Doc Rivers door when he announced that Doc would return as 76ers coach next season, but it seems he might have forgotten to lock the said door. As per a recent report by NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers have not ‘abandoned hope’ of acquiring Rivers should he become suddenly available, which seems to be a faint possibility:
“One source close to the situation told me over the weekend that the list of coaches under consideration by the Lakers is “still wider” than the reported trio of Ham, Stotts and Atkinson.”
“Suspicions persist in league coaching circles that the Lakers have not completely abandoned hope that Philadelphia’s Doc Rivers becomes unexpectedly available — despite the recent insistence from Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey that Rivers will be back in Philly next season.”
Rivers last won a championship in 2008 with the Celtics and has since seen a string of playoff failures come his way, so he wouldn’t be the most popular appointment. However, he is a cut above the rest in terms of experience and if the Lakers do wish to make it happen, then they will surely be trying to negotiate whatever they can with the Sixers and Rivers himself.
