The Los Angeles Lakers are still searching for a head coach, and it appears that will continue on further. According to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, head coaching candidate Tyronn Lue will leave discussions without a contract.
Ty Lue and his representatives have informed the Lakers that he is moving on from trying to be hired as the Lakers' new coach, sources. Lue and his reps thanked the Lakers.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) May 8, 2019
Tyronn Lue and now Suns head coach Monty Williams were the two most consistent names linked to the Lakers. Williams interviewed for the Lakers job, but took the Phoenix job when it was offered to him first.
The qualifications for the Lakers job appear to be some combination of “young player developer” and “yes I worked with LeBron James before”. Lue coached James in Cleveland and won a championship, while also saying before this season with the Cavs that he is excited about developing players. Williams and James have worked together with Team USA. Now, the top two candidates for the Lakers critical head coaching job will not be there.
So why did the two sides fail to reach a deal? The Lakers reportedly wanted too much control over who would be on the staff and work with Lue. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski says that Los Angeles strongly encouraged Jason Kidd to be a top assistant.
Discussions have included talks on contract and assistant coaching staff, sources said. Among Lakers hopes on a Lue staff: Jason Kidd. He made a strong impression with management in his head coaching interview and had a productive history w/ Bucks developing young talent. https://t.co/uQxTjqWAm7
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 8, 2019
Dictating who sits on a head coach’s staff is not a typical course of action for NBA franchises. The head coach, historically and probably for good reason, pick their own assistants. This goes for every head coach, regardless of if they have a championship pedigree like Ty Lue. And speaking of pedigree, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reports that the Lakers and Lue could not agree to a contract length and appropriate salary.
Ty Lue and his reps turned down the Lakers’ offer Tuesday, per league sources. LAL regrouped with an offer in the range of 3 years, $18 million today. Lue’s side pulled out of negotiations. Lue’s camp seeking 5 year deal with salary commensurate with championship resume
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 8, 2019
The three-year deal coincides with the contract LeBron James signed last offseason, meaning that in an ideal Lakers world both Lue and James are off the books at the same time. The low-balling in length and salary also factored into the decision to no longer pursue a contract. Former Lakers coach and now Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton received a five-year deal, as did Williams in Phoenix. To portray the Lakers head coach opening as a babysitting gig to assure LeBron is happy for the remaining years in his contract is insulting.
Lue, a former Lakers point guard and NBA champion in the purple and gold, would have fit the requirements the Los Angeles front office is looking for very well. Instead, the Lakers attempted to control the situation too much and, as a result, will be forced to move on to their third and fourth options.
