The Los Angeles Lakers’ season ended on Tuesday night for all intents and purposes. While there are obviously still games left to be played this week, their elimination from playoff contention also signaled the end of their relevancy in 2022.
Now, all attention has turned to how LA can right the ship.
The first domino to drop, unfortunately, will be the firing of head coach Frank Vogel. Although he did the best he could with the poorly-orchestrated roster he was given, he is the easiest scapegoat for the Lakers’ failures.
One surprising coach that has quietly emerged as a potential replacement for Vogel? Michigan’s Juwan Howard.
According to Bleacher Report NBA insider Eric Pincus, Howard’s ties to both LeBron James and Rob Pelinka make him an intriguing candidate.
“The Lakers do not seem interested in saddling a first-time coach with championship expectations,” he wrote.
“That may not apply to Juwan Howard, who has ties to Pelinka and James, was an assistant with the Miami Heat and previously interviewed with the franchise in 2019. While the Lakers may have interest in Howard, it’s unclear if he’s open to leaving Michigan with two of his sons on next year’s roster.”
Late last year Michigan signed Howard to a five-year contract extension through 2026. In three seasons with the Wolverines he has gone 61-32, never advancing past the Elite Eight.
Is that really what the Lakers need right now? That’s a decision for ownership.
All in all, LA is down pretty bad right now. Rumors regarding a possible Anthony Davis trade are intensifying. James seems to be eyeing which team he wants to land with next. Russell Westbrook is as delusional as ever.
— Game 7 (@game7__) April 7, 2022
Things aren’t great,
Is Howard going to be the man who comes in and saves the day in Los Angeles?
Time will tell.
Related: Steve Kerr Mocks LeBron James, Lakers For Missing Playoffs
Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
