Two 'Real' Candidates To Be Lakers Coach Have Emerged

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03/05/2024 03:08

DENVER, CO - APRIL 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets during Round One Game Five of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 29, 2024 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)

Bart Young/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly considering two big names as potential replacements for Darvin Ham - if the team decides to move on.

On "The Athletic NBA Show Podcast," Johan Buva suggested the team is ready to make a change. "The latest I've heard is the plan is still to move on from Darvin at some point, likely by the end of the week, potentially as early as tomorrow," Buva said Thursday on the podcast.

Around the same time as that report, ESPN's Dave McMenamin made an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show. During his time on the show, McMenamin revealed J.J. Redick and Tyronn Lue are among the "real" possibilities for the Lakers as head coach.

"JJ certainly is a real candidate if they open up this coaching search," McMenamin said. "But there's half a dozen folks out there, including the guy who just lost last night against the Dallas Mavericks in Tyronn Lue. He's got one year left so what's going to happen to his contract with the Clippers? There will be a process there, but there are several viable candidates that will get an interview."

Dave McMenamin (@Mcten) discusses the #Lakers future at Head Coach, including the possibility that they look at JJ Redick to replace Darvin Ham pic.twitter.com/fmoG4vniqh
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) May 2, 2024

Both potential replacements have a clear connection to Lakers star LeBron James. Lue and LeBron won a championship together with the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Redick and LeBron share a podcast.

Should the Lakers move on from Ham?