Previewing the Lakers' head-coaching candidates

It came as no surprise that the Lakers fired embattled head coach Darvin Ham after two seasons. But some of the candidates to replace Ham may seem a little unusual. Here's a look at some of the names under consideration to take over the Lake Show.

The podcaster: JJ Redick

Redick has never been a basketball coach on any level, but he does have what might be the most compelling resume item for the Lakers: He hosts a podcast with LeBron James.

On "Mind the Game," James and Redick drink wine and talk about basketball strategy. Did James ever bring fancy wine to Ham's office? Maybe not.

While Redick has his own media company that produces the James podcast, as well as "The Old Man and the Three," he's also been elevated to the lead broadcast team for ESPN's NBA telecasts. He still seems ready to jump to coaching, with insider Shams Charania reporting he was a "serious candidate" for the Charlotte Hornets job.

Some coaches like Steve Kerr and Larry Bird did great with no head-coaching experience. Others, like Magic Johnson and Steve Nash, not so much. But with James able to enter free agency, the new coach might be whoever King James wants.

The former coach: Tyronn Lue

Lue won a championship coaching James with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, and he led the Cavs to the NBA Finals in 2017 and 2018. The Lakers had interest in hiring Lue in 2019, after firing Luke Walton, but they only offered him a three-year contract. Instead, they hired Frank Vogel, and Lue became a Clippers assistant coach, and took over the head job in 2020.

James might want to reunite with Lue, but it may not be up to him. Lue still has a year left on his contract with the Clippers, who are moving into a new arena next season. They reportedly want to sign Lue to an extension, and as Steve Ballmer is the wealthiest owner in professional sports, they can afford to meet Lue's price.

The NBA champion: Mike Budenholzer

"Coach Bud" won a title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, but he got fired after the top-seeded Bucks lost to the Miami Heat in the first round of last year's playoffs. Budenholzer has won 56 or more games four times with Milwaukee and the Atlanta Hawks, but his postseason record is only 56-48, with two upsets by the Heat in his last four seasons.

Budenholzer easily has the best track record of any available candidate, but he's not known for his flexibility or his playoff success. If the Lakers are going to fire their coach for falling short in the playoffs, Budenholzer might not be the guy.

The top assistant: Kenny Atkinson

Atkinson almost left the Golden State Warriors after their 2022 championship to lead the Hornets, but he changed his mind and went back to Steve Kerr's staff. He guided the Brooklyn Nets through a brutal rebuild in his previous head job, taking them to the playoffs. But Atkinson didn't survive the additions of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and Brooklyn fired him in favor of Nash.

He's perhaps the most high-profile, head-coach-ready assistant coach in the NBA right now. Of course, you could have said that about Ham two years ago as well.

The player-coach: LeBron James

If James is going to hire and fire coaches and consult on personnel moves, why don't the Lakers make it official and hire James as a player-coach? Bill Russell won two titles as a player-coach, so it can be done. Maybe James can break even more ground and become a player-coach-GM!

He's already done so many things that no one in basketball history has accomplished that this may be the only place James can break new ground. Plus, coaching will keep him busy enough to guarantee there's no chance he ever makes another "Space Jam" movie.