Report: Lakers were surprised by Monty Williams accepting Suns job

The Los Angeles Lakers’ coaching search hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts, according to a new report.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski on The Woj Pod, Monty Williams was the Lakers’ first choice to become their new head coach, and they did not take seriously the possibility that Williams might accept the Phoenix Suns’ job instead.

.@wojespn said on his podcast that the Lakers were ready to move toward offering Monty Williams their head coaching position. They never really took the possibility of Williams acceding the Suns job seriously, and it very much surprised them.

Wow, what a blunder by the Lakers.

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 6, 2019

“They were ready to move toward Monty Williams, and I think the Lakers never really took seriously the possibility he was going to take that Suns job, and he did,” Wojnarowski said. “And I know it surprised them.”

The Suns had made it clear that Williams was their top target, and it’s hard to believe the Lakers wouldn’t at least take them seriously. Williams was not willing to wait around for a concrete offer from the Lakers, and they’ll land Tyronn Lue instead.