The Los Angeles Lakers have not lived up to any expectations that surrounded their team this season. With the signing of all-time great forward LeBron James in the summer of 2018, the Lakers were expected to improve upon their 35-47 record, which was only good enough for eleventh place in the Western Conference. Unfortunately for them, the Lakers have only strung together a record of 30-34 this season, and sit outside of the playoff picture in tenth place. Now, the lackluster season is set to cost Head Coach Luke Walton his job, barring some unforeseen circumstances, as stated in a report by Marc Stein for The New York Times.
The prevailing assumption in league coaching circles remains that Walton will almost certainly be dismissed after the season, followed by the Lakers resuming their trade quest for [New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony] Davis.
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Changes are coming, though. It’s an open secret that a big off-season reset looms in Lakerland.
Turmoil has surrounded Luke Walton for the majority of the season, as apparent pressure from Lakers brass, including Magic Johnson, against Walton prompted controlling owner Jeanie Buss to publicly throw her support behind him. Walton then proceeded to engage in a highly publicized postgame altercation with his own players.
One major negative for the Lakers came in the form of the groin injury LeBron James suffered on Christmas Day. Throughout his absence, the Lakers lost eleven of the seventeen games James missed, and have now lost five of their last six following Monday night’s 113-105 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, all but assuring the Lakers will miss this year’s NBA playoffs.
