The Los Angeles Lakers’ rollercoaster of a head coaching search has finally come to a conclusion, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Lakers have agreed to hire Frank Vogel as their next head coach. The deal will reportedly last three years, which would be through LeBron James’ final season under contract in LA.
Frank Vogel has agreed to a deal to become the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 11, 2019
Frank Vogel's contract with the Lakers, per sources: Three years.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 11, 2019
Along with Vogel, Wojnarowski reports that former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd will also join him on the coaching staff.
Jason Kidd has agreed to join Vogel's Lakers staff in a prominent assistant coaching role, league sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/ZrQRWfq1US
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 11, 2019
Frank Vogel will now take the helm in Los Angeles following a disappointing 2019 campaign. Of course, the Lakers hadn’t made the postseason since 2013, but it’s safe to say expectations were inflated last season with LeBron James aboard.
Now Frank Vogel and Jason Kidd face one of the most daunting tasks in the NBA: appeasing LeBron and the LA front office by building a championship contender. This all starts with free agency, as the West is simply too loaded for James and the Lakers to make any real noise with him as the sole star player on the roster.
Kawhi Leonard has flirted with the possibility of joining the Lakers but that’s also looking like a longshot. There are a plethora of other marquee free agents set to hit the open market this summer but it remains to be seen whether the Lakers are able to corral any.
Los Angeles has routinely been linked to big names in free agency but have yet to capitalize outside of last summer’s acquisition of LeBron James and other auxiliary pieces. Now with Vogel and Kidd cemented as key members of their coaching staff, it’ll be intriguing to see whether GM Rob Pelinka and President Jeanie Buss can bring any superstar talent to the City of Angels.
