The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be pressing forward in their search for a new head coach.
The Lakers interviewed Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Monty Williams this week. On Friday, they interviewed Ty Lue, who was fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers following an 0-6 start to the season.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin, the team plans to have second meetings with each candidate that will also include Lakers owner Jeanie Buss.
ESPN reporting with @McTen: Ty Lue’s meeting w/ Lakers GM Rob Pelinka today was similar to Monty Williams’ earlier in week: Get to know each other, setting up second interviews focused more on specifics. Lakers plan to bring back both coaches for sit-downs including Jeanie Buss.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 20, 2019
Lue has previous experience coaching LeBron James in Cleveland. The two won a championship together in 2016, which is the season when Lue took over for David Blatt midway through the year. Williams coached the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans for five seasons from 2010-2015.
Though he is a candidate for the job, some Lakers executives reportedly have fears about the repercussions of giving Lue the job.
Rob Pelinka conducting the coaching search indicates a high level of job security for the GM. There was some consideration after Magic Johnson resigned that the Lakers might bring in a new president who would want to hire his own GM and head coach, but the Lakers are not operating in that mindset.
