Official 2016 Coaching Search Thread

Ollie's name surfaced, jumped to the forefront, then fell way back down to Earth. I don't know if that had to do with the "player personnel control" piece that came out or what. Interesting.

I'm still bullish on Luke, but he needs some really great assistants. Brian Shaw is an assistant that I think could do wonders. I'm not sure if we could convince Van Gundy to take a coaching position that isn't a head coach spot. I think he likes the kind of power that his brother wields, but it couldn't hurt to ask. I think it'd take something incredible to pry Messina away with another assistant gig. I'm pretty sure he's looking for the top spot, but again what harm is there in asking?

 

I like it.

 

Not just in here, but the most recent reports have Luke and Messina as front runners, not Ollie.

 

Have you read that JVG is willing to come back in that capacity? Cause I'm with LT on this one. I see no scenario where JVG leaves his fun (and pretty lucrative) job at ABC to join on as an assistant to a 36 year old kid. And as an assitant, he still has to deal with the politics to some degree. I mean, if Luke brings him on and Luke gets caught in the crosshairs, his staff will be gone with him. They almost always are. People who make it to the top of the coaching mountain rarely (if ever) take an assistant job unless they had a horrible first stint and needed more seasoning. JVG is a successful NBA head coach. You could argue he's been very successful. I think we have a far better chance of landing Durant than we do of somehow talking a high profile head coach like JVG into taking an assistant position, behind an inexperienced 36 year old kid no less. Coaches with JVG pedigree only take assistant jobs if it's like the Olympics or something. In fact, I'd be willing to guess that JVG would want the opposite of an assistant position and would demand the type of control his brother has.

Would I like to be wrong on this? Absolutely. Luke as a head coach with JVG teaching defense and giving pointers to Luke would be amazing. But unless you have read somewhere that JVG is willing to take an assistant job (on a team other than the US National team) then I am going to assume that he would never "lower" himself to that.

 

Alright there. Figured it out. I moved a bunch of the new information that @RandleROFY and @ElginTheGreat and @Chillbongo were able to find over to the new thread.

Hopefully you guys are cool with that.

 

I voted Luke. I was responsible for the old Byron title, "Waiting for this to be the Luke Walton thread". He's the perfect choice for this moment in Lakers history. He will guide and grow with our young core. He's smart, relatable, and has just the right seasoning. He has championship experience as a player and a coach. And role players always make the best coaches.

Ollie is a great choice but probably unattainable.

Messina is brilliant but he needs to take over for Pop.

I'm going to go eat some ribs tonight in honor of the next Lakers coach, Luuuuuke!!!!!

 

I'd still take Ollie number one, Luke number two, Messina a pretty distant third. I believe Ollie is the best candidate to 1. Work with and develop our young core - this is one of his strongest suits and an area where he just has more experience and success than someone like Luke; 2. Attract the kind of free agents we are looking for - his relationship with Durant and to just a slightly lesser extent Westbrook is well known, Durant loves the guy and had nothing but praise for him. If the HC job is going to be in part a recruiting mission as the FO has been saying, then Ollie beats out Luke and Messina.

Now there may be some flaws in Ollie's offensive schemes but I also know he tries to work with and showcase the strengths of his individual players. I've also heard that he's a terrific defensive coach, which we REALLY, REALLY need badly with this young core right now. I'm more concerned with that side of the ball. I know Clarkson, Russell and Randle can all get their own, they can all score. But the D? Yikes. They need a LOT of work and with a coach who knows how to TEACH it!! That is exactly what Kevin Ollie does. So it's a no-brainer to me that if Ollie is available and interested and hopefully not too stuck on personnel decisions (input is one thing, control is a no-go), then he's your best candidate.

That said I love the idea of Luke as HC, too, and if he ends up getting the gig, then more power to him and I'll be ecstatic. As revgen said though, he is going to need a very good staff because right now he is just too inexperienced to go at this without some good folks behind him. But Luke is a smart guy and I think he will assemble a good staff. I'm sure the Lakers FO would try to help him in that regard as well. They cannot afford to fail with this hire and if Luke is the guy they will get behind him in every way to assist him to be successful. His mentor Phil of course brought in Tex Winter to teach the triangle.

Theoretically Messina is a great mind, no doubt. But actual hands on HC work here in LA with a bunch of young American kids? I'm not sure I see it. San Antonio is a perfect place for him with their international players and emphasis. I just see the Spurs personnel better suited for his offensive concepts. I don't see him connecting with guys like Clarkson, Russell and Randle. But maybe I'm underestimating his ability to translate to the NBA and communicate with young American players. I got ZERO feeling from him though when he was employed by us under Mike Brown. I didn't see ANY of his offensive ideas implemented on the court. He had no impact at all that I could see. That worries me, greatly. I'm not worried about Ollie or Luke in the slightest in terms of getting through to our players, connecting with them or teaching them. So I have my doubts about Messina despite his strong resume, his experience, and his brilliance. I'm just not convinced this is the right place for him.

 

I'd put 1000 dollars down that Dwight is out of there this summer. He hates it there, he hates Harden, and he's going to run probably to Dallas somehow to try to reshape his image.

I think Van Gundy has a good shot at head coach in Houston.

 

Now that Ollie's basketball strategies and agenda has been expanded upon...he comes with his own red flags. Walton is still a viable candidate given his experience at the NBA level not to mention his coaching influences. He was my first choice but the whole Jackson shadow gives it some unwanted intrigue. I also thought Walton would be comfortable with his own identity not to kowtow to anyone not to mention he is already familiar with the Laker organization. If we can somehow convince Messina to take a high profile assistant gig then I'm on board with Walton. As others have said, surround him with a capable staff and let's roll...

Van Gundy? No...too far removed from the game and I don't know if he can relate to the modern player. I don't believe he'll go back into The League as an assistant even as a well known one. I'd take Blatt over him.