Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder seems to be the most coveted man in the NBA.
A week ago, his name was linked to the Spurs as a potential replacement for Gregg Popovich, who turned 73 in January.
Now, we’re hearing he could also be a target for the Lakers, who could soon have an opening for his arrival if Frank Vogel fails to turn things around. In a recent article, Marc Stein wrote about the possibility.
As covered in my previous This Week In Basketball column, Snyder has been increasingly mentioned as a potential target for San Antonio to succeed Gregg Popovich. I’ve likewise heard Snyder’s name posed as a probable Los Angeles Lakers candidate should the Lakers and Frank Vogel part ways after what has been a nightmare season in Hollywood.
Snyder has ties to both teams after a three-season stint as San Antonio’s G League coach in Austin and one season as a Lakers assistant under Mike Brown.
Snyder is a widely respected leader who has coached the Jazz for 8 years now. In that time, the team has developed from a relatively irrelevant franchise to one of the best in the league. His record is 368-257.
While he has not shown any indication of wanting out of Utah, the idea of joining the Lakers and coaching LeBron James may be too exciting to pass up.
Even amid all the struggles, the Purple and Gold might just be a few moves away from returning to a place of contention in the Western Conference. Regardless of what happens with Vogel or Snyder, GM Rob Pelinka is sure to be busy re-working and re-tooling the roster around their core players.
The hire of Quin Snyder would certainly be a step in the right direction.
