Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James wants change in the wake of yet another mass shooting in the United States.

The Los Angeles Lakers star responded to Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, by offering his thoughts and prayers to those affected and adding, "These are kids and we keep putting them in harm's way at school. Like seriously 'AT SCHOOL' where it's suppose to be the safest!"

My thoughts and prayers goes out to the families of love ones loss & injured at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX! Like when is enough enough man!!! These are kids and we keep putting them in harms way at school. Like seriously "AT SCHOOL" where it's suppose to be the safest!

— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 24, 2022

There simply has to be change! HAS TO BE!! 😔😔😔😔🥺🥺🥺🥺.. Praying to the heavens above to all with kids these days in schools. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 24, 2022

According to CNN, the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed 19 children and two teachers were killed. 

The gunman was also killed. 

The latest shooting comes shortly after a gunman killed 10 people and injured three more in a shooting at a Tops Friendly Markets store in a largely Black neighborhood of Buffalo, New York, earlier this month, per CNN.

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said it was a racist hate crime attack, and the suspect told authorities he was targeting the Black community, per CNN.

Separately, one man was killed and five others were wounded earlier this month at a Taiwanese church service in Orange County, California, according to CNN. 

It is notable James pointed out children are supposed to be the safest when they are at school because of how involved he is with education off the court.

The LeBron James Family Foundation helped open the I PROMISE School in Akron, Ohio, with its website saying it is "dedicated to those students who are already falling behind and in danger of falling through the cracks."

James has long been a public advocate of the importance of education, and thousands even signed a petition for him to be the United States Secretary of Education in 2018.

Even in the throes of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals and all of the excitement the matchups of the Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors is bringing to NBA fans, one of the biggest stories around the league is still the Los Angeles Lakers' search for a new head coach.

That's not exactly surprising, especially when considering the fact that the Lakers are one of the NBA's most storied franchises, that LeBron James currently wears the Purple and Gold and, of course, that they missed the playoffs even though No. 23 had another MVP-caliber season.

Not surprisingly, head coach Frank Vogel was immediately fired and the front office began its due diligence to find a suitable replacement.

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Amick, that search has yielded three finalists: Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson, former Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham.

Ham is the only candidate with no previous head-coaching experience but has separated himself as having made the "strongest impression" of the trio.

And then there's the wild card: current Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers.

In keeping with the card-playing metaphor, the Lakers are basically playing UNO and holding out hope that Rivers can be the Draw Four card that they can throw down to end the game.

That's going to be a tall order, though, not only because Rivers drew a public line in the sand last month, asserting before the start of the playoffs that he's "very happy" coaching in Philly, but also because Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey let it be known that Rivers would be back behind the bench for a third season in the city of Brotherly Love.

"I just think he's a great coach," Morey told reporters after the team was eliminated by the Miami Heat in the postseason. "I love working with him. I feel like I'm learning from him. I think [general manager] Elton [Brand] and I and him make a great team, and we're gonna see where this journey takes us.

"But we feel very good about where it's gonna take us, and it's gonna be where we have a very good chance to win the title."

All of that sounds very well, but as the past transactions in the NBA has shown, it's never over until it's over.

As word of Ham being the top candidate makes its way around the league, Los Angeles still hasn't completely abandoned hope that Rivers becomes unexpectedly available, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

The big question then is why is the already-taken Rivers the Lakers' preferred choice?

He didn't exactly end the season on a high note with Philly, who was bounced from the second round in six games.

Apparently, the biggest reason is Russell Westbrook.

The mercurial nine-time NBA All Star guard had his worst season as a player since his third year with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Additionally, Los Angeles' front office didn't feel that Vogel brought out the best in Westbrook or set him up for success, so they want a coach who can find a way to salvage the 2017 MVP's career, if they decide not to trade the 33-year-old.

That's easier said than done, but Rivers has experience dealing with big personalities. He's coached Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

Then there's their superstar duo of Anthony Davis and James.

Rivers found a way to make a cohesive group of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett while with the Celtics and won a championship in 2008, so there's the hope that he can get the most out of Davis and James moving forward.

However difficult it might be to pry Rivers away from the Sixers, it's completely understandable as to why they would want to do it.

Rivers is an all-time coach with 23 seasons on the bench, a 1,043-735 regular-season record, 104 wins in the playoffs and an NBA title.

So if L.A. can actually get Rivers, to steal one of Westbrook's famous quotes, "why not" do it?

If the Los Angeles Lakers want to trade Russell Westbrook, they are going to have to sweeten the deal for a team to take on the former NBA MVP's massive salary next season. 

Per The Athletic's Jovan Buha, opposing teams "have been demanding" the Lakers include at least one first-round draft pick in order to take on the final year of Westbrook's contract. 

Buha noted the Lakers, as of now, "have no intention" of including a first-round pick to facilitate a Westbrook trade. 

It's been an open secret for months that it would probably take a first-round pick for another team to acquire Westbrook. 

Prior to the trade deadline on Feb. 10, there were reports that the Lakers and Houston Rockets were talking about a swap of Westbrook for John Wall. 

Per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, those talks stalled out because the Lakers refused to include a first-round draft pick in the trade. 

Wall didn't appear in a game this season over differences with the Rockets about his role on the team. The 31-year-old stands out on Houston's roster because of where the organization is at in its rebuild, but no deals have materialized for him. 

The Lakers can currently only trade their first-round picks in 2027 or 2028 due to other deals they have made. If they wait until after the 2022 draft to make a move, they can also include their 2029 first-rounder in a potential trade. 

Given how badly things went for the Lakers this season, and how poor Westbrook's fit with their roster turned out to be, it might seem like moving him would be a given. The franchise is still trying to maximize what's left of LeBron James' prime and keep Anthony Davis healthy. 

According to Buha, there is "sentiment" among some people in the Lakers front office that the right head coach and a better supporting cast can "smooth over Westbrook’s awkward fit with James and Davis."

Westbrook, who has a $47.1 million player option for next season, had his lowest scoring average (18.5 points per game) since 2009-10 in his first year with the Lakers. The nine-time All-Star shot under 30 percent from three-point range for the fourth time in the past five seasons. 

The Lakers missed the playoffs with a 33-49 record. They have finished under .500 seven times in the past nine seasons.      

      

Ahead of hitting free agency this offseason, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine acknowledged his Los Angeles Lakers fandom.

TMZ Sports caught up with LaVine in L.A. this week, and when asked about the Lakers, he responded: "I've always been a big fan."

The comment came after K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago named the Lakers last week as one of the teams linked to LaVine in free agency.

LaVine spent the past five seasons with the Bulls, but with the two sides failing to come to terms on a new contract thus far, all signs point toward the two-time All-Star testing the open market.

While LaVine was born in Washington state and played his high school basketball there, he attended UCLA collegiately and became a huge star in the area.

After a highly successful college career with the Bruins, LaVine was selected 13th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2014 NBA draft.

LaVine showed flashes of brilliance in Minnesota, but it wasn't until he was traded to Chicago as part of the Jimmy Butler deal in June 2017 that he reached his potential as one of the NBA's top offensive guards.

After averaging 23.7 points per game in 2018-19 and then 25.5 points per game the following year, he set new career highs across the board in 2020-21, averaging 27.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 3.4 three-pointers made per game.

That yielded LaVine's first career All-Star nod, and he was also part of the United States men's basketball team that won gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

LaVine's numbers weren't quite as good this season, but he was an All-Star again with averages of 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 three-pointers made per game, plus Chicago made the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

The Lakers are just two years removed from winning a championship, but they are coming off a nightmarish campaign that saw them miss the playoffs with a 33-49 record after both LeBron James and Anthony Davis missing significant time because of injuries.

While the Lakers would undoubtedly love to add a player of LaVine's quality to the core of James and Davis, doing so may be next to impossible due to their salary-cap situation.

LeBron and AD take up a great deal of cap space on their own, plus Russell Westbrook will account for over $47 million if he exercises his player option as expected.

Even if there is legitimate mutual interest between LaVine and the Lakers, it is difficult to envision a scenario in which they can make it work.

The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly fell short in their pursuit of Michigan's Juwan Howard to be their next head coach, but another candidate could benefit from that.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham shares some similarities with Howard that have some people believing that he's a favorite to land the position.

"I think Darvin Ham is a candidate to keep watching in this Lakers process," Wojnarowski reported on Monday's episode of NBA Today. "You know, you could see if you wanted to go after Juwan Howard and they did, you see how Darvin Ham, again, checks a lot of the boxes that Juwan might. And I think his candidacy is one to watch in L.A."

Ham is reportedly one of three finalists for the position, along with Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts.

After spending two seasons as an assistant coach for the Lakers in 2011-13, Ham joined Mike Budenholzer's staff when he was hired as head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. He accompanied Budenholzer to Milwaukee in 2018, helping coach the team to the NBA title in 2021.

The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Amick recently reported that Ham made the "strongest impression" out of all the candidates during the interview process.

"In terms of the Lakers' preferences, sources say team officials have prioritized a coach who can command respect and authority from the locker room and who has a strong enough presence and voice to manage the varying roles and relationships across the roster," Charania and Amick stated. "Those characteristics bode well for Ham’s candidacy."

Los Angeles fired Frank Vogel after finishing the season 33-49 and falling short of the playoffs. The Lakers still have high expectations heading into next season, so finding the right coach to lead a star-studded roster is paramount this offseason.

While it looks like Ham has the inside track for the job, Los Angeles will face some competition for him. Charania reported that Ham is also a candidate for the Charlotte Hornets head coach position.

Former Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks center Slava Medvedenko has been serving in Ukraine's territorial defense forces in Kyiv during Russia's invasion of his home country. 

The 43-year-old told Bill Oram of The Athletic that he's hoping to sell the two championship rings he earned with the Lakers as Shaquille O'Neal's backup to help with the war effort.

Oram wrote: "The organization has offered to help however it can, including preparing a shipment of sports gear to send to Ukraine. In an email, Lakers executive Linda Rambis told Medvedenko that if he sold his rings, the team would replace them."

"I'm proud that we're an organization that our former players know when they need help that somebody will answer their call," Lakers governor Jeanie Buss said.

Medvedenko is stationed in Kyiv with the Volunteer Formation No. 29 of the 128th Separate Battalion. In the early days of the invasion, rockets blasted overhead and he "dug holes for anti-tank mines and trained to fire RPGs" while serving as part of the military's police force. 

"Can you imagine?" Medvedenko told Oram. "You're just sitting at a checkpoint and you see a big f--king rocket just fly over you?"

The fighting in Kyiv has slowed down as Russia's invasion focuses on more eastern parts of Ukraine. The former Laker is prioritizing relief efforts such as delivering food to parts of the country that were occupied by Russian forces or organizing charitable organizations for Ukraine's youth, including hosting basketball camps.

He's also hoping to invite O'Neal to Ukraine. 

Medvedenko played seven NBA seasons for the Lakers (2000-01 to 2005-06) and Hawks (2006-07), averaging 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds. Buss described him as "an ultimate role player."

"You say, 'OK, that matches the character of who that person is,'" she said about learning he chose to stay and fight in Kyiv. "And playing basketball isn't life and death, but it is a reflection of who we are and what we bring."

For Ukraine, Medvedenko is trying to bring any assistance he can.

The Los Angeles Lakers have three finalists for their vacant head-coaching job, but it appears they're still hoping another potential candidate hits the market. 

The Lakers "have not completely abandoned hope" that Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers will become available this summer, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Rivers is the Lakers' preferred choice, Bill Plaschke reported on The Doug Gottlieb Show earlier this month. However, the 60-year-old might not be available despite the Sixers falling to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said in his exit interview that Rivers would return for his third season behind the bench.

"I just think he's a great coach," Morey said. "I love working with him. I feel like I'm learning from him. I think [general manager] Elton [Brand] and I and him make a great team, and we're gonna see where this journey takes us.

"But we feel very good about where it's gonna take us, and it's gonna be where we have a very good chance to win the title."

Rivers also denied interest in the Lakers coaching position in April, telling reporters he was "very happy" as head coach in Philadelphia:

"We talk a lot here, and everybody is happy here. We want to get this right. I came here for one reason. Like I said when I took [the job], you're going to like some of the things I do and not gonna like, and from a coaching point, you really can't care about that. But I am committed to winning. I think if we can turn this around, which we have from when we first got here to now, but we want to win it. ... I'm not a candidate. I have a job — and I'm very happy at my job."

That said, L.A.'s interest in Rivers isn't surprising, considering he has a lengthy resume that includes an NBA title. 

Rivers has been coaching in the NBA since 1999, leading the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers, in addition to the Sixers. He is 1,043-735 in the regular season and 104-100 in the playoffs across 23 seasons as a head coach. 

L.A.'s current finalists include Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham, Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts. Ham has made the "strongest impression" of the three, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Amick. 

Magic Johnson believes the trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook can still work.

The Lakers just need to find the right coach.

Johnson spoke to David Aldridge of The Athletic about last season's Lakers falling short of expectations and what he hopes to see in the team's ongoing coaching search.

"Everybody was saying the Lakers, with Russell (Westbrook), man, we’re talking about NBA Finals. We’re going to be one of the favorites. So, it’s definitely got to be driving them crazy — it should be driving all three of them crazy. Because we didn’t meet those expectations. We failed. Now it’s, what are we going to do to make sure it doesn’t happen next season? To your point, which is the biggest point, who’s going to lead that effort, coaching-wise? And then, so once a coach is in place, what are we going to do now about the roster? It’s really important that they get the right person, and then make, hopefully, the right roster moves. We know it can’t be a lot, but it can be something. I guess they’ve got to make those decisions."

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Darvin Ham, Kenny Atkinson and Terry Stotts are the current finalists for the Lakers job. They will be replacing Frank Vogel, who went 127-98 in three seasons as the franchise's head coach, winning the 2020 NBA championship but presiding over a two-year regression since.

Westbrook's arrival and the injuries to James and Davis were the largest issues plaguing the Lakers in 2021-22. The trio never seemed to mesh during the rare times they shared the court, with Westbrook and James proving to be an oil-water mix due to their propensity to handle the ball.

Westbrook said he and Vogel never connected. Vogel benched the 2017 NBA MVP on several occasions during rough stretches, which led to obvious tension as the Lakers season faltered. 

“I’m not sure what his issue was with me, or I’m not sure why. I can’t really give you an answer why we never really connected,” Westbrook told reporters. "That’s something that he has to answer… from the get-go, was feeling like I had to try and prove myself to him, and my capabilities and what I’ve been able to do for this game. It’s unfortunate, but it’s out of my hands.”

Johnson believes the Westbrook era can still be a success, so long as the Lakers find the right coach who can work with him. He said he advised the Lakers to consider retaining Westbrook, especially given the lack of talent they would likely get in return in a trade. 

"Well, it only can work, if you’ve got the coach—the right coach," Johnson said. "To me, it still comes down to, who’s the coach? And, then, also, he’s on a one-year, $47 million (contract). Even if you offer him (in a trade), what are you, realistically, going to get back? I told them this too—you’re going to get some contracts you probably don’t want, and they’re going to go (chronologically) past his contract. You’ve really got to think about that. Are those players you’re going to get back, are they going to really help you? I said, talk to him.

"Whatever happened (this season), how can you make it better with Russell? How can you make it more comfortable? So they’ve got to figure all these things out. Take him out, take him to dinner or sit him down. How can this thing be better? ‘Cause if he’s going to be there, it’s got to be better. I guess whoever they name, that’s the first thing they’re going to have to do. And you can’t sit down once. You’re going to have to sit down for a week or two to try to figure that thing out."

Johnson previously held the role of team president from 2017 to 2019 before resigning in famously public fashion. He's maintained a close relationship with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, who tends to keep the same close circle when making major basketball decisions. 

Michigan men's basketball coach Juwan Howard resisted an "overture" from the Los Angeles Lakers in their coaching vacancy, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Wojnarowski noted Howard's two sons, Jace and Jett, are still members of the Wolverines roster.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported the Lakers have narrowed their list down to three finalists: Kenny Atkinson, Darvin Ham and Terry Stotts.

Wojnarowski's report aligned with what NBA insider Marc Stein reported on May 2: "Michigan's Juwan Howard is known to hold [LeBron] James' respect after their time together in Miami but is said to be firm in his desire to stay with the Wolverines to coach sons Jace and Jett."

Beyond his family ties in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Howard might have had some reservations about the situation in Los Angeles. The Lakers missed the playoffs this year after losing 49 games, and their championship window might be closed with their current roster.

LeBron James is beginning to show his age, missing 26 games. Anthony Davis logged only 40 appearances, continuing what has been a prevailing theme across his career. And Russell Westbrook is clearly miscast as a third star alongside James and Davis.

There are only so many NBA coaching opportunities to go around, and the challenge of returning a franchise such as the Lakers to prominence is obviously enticing.

But Howard is in a position where he should have the luxury of waiting for the right chance in the Association.

The 49-year-old was a two-time champion during his 19-year NBA career. Upon retiring, he spent five seasons on the Miami Heat's staff. He has also been reasonably successful in his three years at Michigan, posting a 61-32 record and guiding the Wolverines to the Elite Eight in 2021.

Once his sons graduate and he's more open to leaving Ann Arbor, Howard should remain in the mix for whatever NBA vacancies are open at the time.

The Los Angeles Lakers' search for their next head coach continues, and the organization is wisely taking its time with the endeavor. This is perhaps the one big change that Los Angeles can make this offseason with no first-round draft pick and limited trade and free-agent options.

And change is necessary following a 33-49 season punctuated by the firing of former coach Frank Vogel.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, L.A. has found its finalists in Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson, former Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham:

Sources: Finalists for the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching job: Bucks assistant Darvin Ham, Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts. Next stage of interviews are expected to take place in-person in Los Angeles.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 20, 2022

Of this group, Ham is the most logical choice, and there are multiple reasons why.

A few days ago, we examined the value a rookie head coach could bring to the Lakers. It starts with the current roster, which is likely to include the core group of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. According to The Athletic's Sam Amick, the Lakers are have planned to move forward with Westbrook during their coaching search:

"Despite the widely held belief that the Lakers would find a way to trade Westbrook before the start of next season, sources say their coaching candidates have been asked to discuss how they would use him in their system during interviews. The takeaway for candidates, it seems, is that maximizing Westbrook's presence after his disastrous 2021-22 season is considered an important part of this job."

James, Davis and Westbrook are prolific players with big personalities who didn't mesh in Vogel's system. A new coach is more likely to bring a clean slate and an open mind ideally building something new around the players instead of forcing them to adapt.

Ham is the only one of the finalists who has never been an NBA head coach before. He's also an eight-year NBA playing veteran, which checks another reported box on L.A.'s wish list.

"Several of the first-year candidates they've been linked to are former players that are known to command respect," Jovan Buha of The Athletic wrote.

A 6'7" forward, Ham went unclaimed in the 1996 draft but managed to win a ring with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

The Texas Tech product's coaching style as an assistant also fits what the Lakers are reportedly looking for, as Amick and Charania detailed for The Athletic:

"Sources say team officials have prioritized a coach who can command respect and authority from the locker room and who has a strong enough presence and voice to manage the varying roles and relationships across the roster. ... Ham has been known for his no-nonsense style and ability to resonate with his players—attributes that have stood out in his communication with the Lakers thus far as well, sources said."

According to Amick and Charania, Ham has made "the strongest impression yet" during the interview process.

In Ham, the Lakers have a candidate who doesn't possess an established and rigid system that might not suit Westbrook and Co. He would likely be willing to work with them but not allow them to run the show. For these reasons, hiring Ham makes perfect sense. However, there's one more factor that could tip the balance in his favor.

"He's the guy LeBron wants," a competing source said, per Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus.

While the Lakers shouldn't hire their next coach based solely on James' opinion, his voice should be valued in the process. The 37-year-old might not be the dominant force that he once was, but James is still the veteran leader of this roster and an incredibly effective player when healthy.

This past season, James averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. He's not going anywhere in 2022, even if the 18-time All-Star decides not to sign an extension. Amick reported this month that president Jeanie Buss is content to keep James regardless of his contract status.

So, James will be the on-court leader of the Lakers again next season. If he and the next coach are in lockstep regarding the game-planning and overall direction of the franchise, it bodes well for everyone involved. In just about every conceivable aspect, Ham seems like the best candidate to make that happen—and to get the most out of L.A.'s current roster.

This isn't to say that the other finalists can't be successful in Los Angeles. Ham also lacks head coaching experience. Of course, Ime Udoka lacked that experience too before joining the Boston Celtics this year, and he has Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals.

If the Lakers are willing to follow suit and take a chance, Ham is the perfect candidate to lead this team into the 2022-23 season.