The Los Angeles Lakers have parted ways with Frank Vogel after three seasons, and are now in the market for a new head coach. One name to keep an eye on in their search is Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, according to The Athletic. Nurse is in the midst of his fourth season as Toronto’s coach, and he led the team to an NBA title in 2019. His championship experience is obviously intriguing for a Lakers team looking to maximize LeBron James’ remaining years.
From Shams Charania:
The Lakers are expected to fire head coach Frank Vogel, sources tell The Athletic. Among the franchise’s top targets for the position, multiple sources say, is Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse.
Nurse, who led the Raptors to a championship in 2019, signed a multiyear contract extension in 2020 and has two years left on his deal. It’s unclear whether he will be attainable or whether he would have interest, but the Lakers are hoping the former Coach of the Year is an option with the allure of coaching James and Davis and the appeal of the Los Angeles market. To acquire Nurse, the Lakers would need to receive permission from the Raptors and likely engage them on a prospective trade.
The Lakers may be interested in Nurse, but as Charania mentioned, there’s been no indication that the Raptors would be willing to part with Nurse, who still has two years remaining on his current contract after this season. Nurse has had some serious success with the Raptors, and he’s well respected by both the team’s players and front office. Perhaps the Lakers could entice Toronto with a trade offer, but that remains to be seen.
L.A.’s search for a new head coach will likely be an expansive one. In addition to Nurse, Charania also mentioned University of Michigan coach Juwan Howard as a candidate for the job. Howard played in the NBA from 1994 to 2013. Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers and Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder have also both been mentioned as potential replacements for Vogel. Both of those coaches could be on the hot seat depending on how their respective squads perform in the upcoming postseason.
The offseason just began for the Lakers, so we’re likely to hear a plethora of other names floated out as potential coaching candidates in the coming weeks.
Courtesy: CBS Sports
