The Los Angeles Lakers will surely be parting ways with head coach Luke Walton this offseason, and a number of possible replacements have already surfaced. Among them, NBA Hall of Famer Jason Kidd.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, "Kidd will be among the serious candidates for the Lakers coaching job if Luke Walton is dismissed."
Kidd's alma mater, the University of California, cut ties with men’s basketball coach Wyking Jones over the weekend and it is believed that Kidd is the school's "primary target," according to The Oregonian's John Canzano. That said, ESPN's Marc J. Spears notes that Kidd "is still strongly interested" in making a return to the NBA as a head coach.
During his five seasons as a coach with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks from 2013-18, Kidd boasts a sub-.500 record of 183-190.
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Of course, Kidd isn't the only candidate for the Lakers' soon-to-be vacant head coaching position.
Yahoo Sports' NBA Insider Chris Haynes believes that LeBron's former coach and former Lakers guard, Tyronn Lue, is an "obvious candidate" to replace Walton.
Haynes was a guest on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" last month, when he briefly discussed the state of the Lakers (H/T Clutch Points).
Cowherd: “…Well, I mean, I will say this, and I’m not going to blame anybody for this. But I have a source who I trust and I think it’s 10% Luke Walton is the coach next year and 90% he’s not. I’ll say that, you react to it…it would take getting into the playoffs, knocking off a Denver, it would take things I don’t think this club is capable of.
Haynes: “I wouldn’t dismiss that.”
Cowherd: “If I said there’s another coach out there…do you have in mind another coach for the Lakers next year?
Haynes: “Well, obviously Tyronn Lue. I mean, LeBron James, the day Lue got fired LeBron James put a tweet out supporting him. ‘You know how to contact me if you need me.'”