It did not take long for a clear frontrunner to be identified after Luke Walton’s departure as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue is considered a “strong frontrunner” for the Lakers’ open job.
Ty Lue is a strong frontrunner for the Lakers coaching job, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 12, 2019
Wojnarowski adds that Philadelphia 76ers assistant Monty Williams is the other leading candidate for the role.
Sixers assistant Monty Williams joins Ty Lue as the central candidates in the Lakers search, league sources tell ESPN. Process is expected to center on them.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 12, 2019
It will be vital for the Lakers to hire a coach that LeBron James both approves of and can coexist with. Lue has already proven he can do that, as the two won an NBA title together in 2016 in part because Lue was able to stamp his authority on James and the team. There is no guarantee that the second act would go quite as well as the first one, but there’s a proven relationship there, and the Lakers may well value that.
