Despite its storied history and iconic brand, the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching position has lost some of its allure, with candidates opting for less prestigious jobs due to challenging conditions and a lack of clear authority.
For over three weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers have been without a head coach since dismissing Darvin Ham. Surprisingly, the search process has dragged on, with no clear frontrunner emerging. The current list of candidates, including J.J. Redick, Micah Nori, James Borrego, Sam Cassell, and David Adelman, falls short of the legendary figures like Pat Riley and Phil Jackson who once graced the Lakers' sidelines.
This has raised questions about whether the Lakers' head coaching job still holds the same prestige it once did. While the perks of the position remain, including the media attention, favorable schedule, and access to top talent, the downside has diminished its allure.
"High on prestige," said a Western Conference scout. "S--- in every other way."
An Eastern Conference executive acknowledged the benefits of coaching the Lakers, citing the brand recognition and national exposure. However, he also highlighted the unfavorable conditions:
"The Lakers' job ranks at the top because of the traditional level of talent you get to coach, a ton of nationally televised games every year, the favorable whistles your team gets, the favorable schedule you play, and you will always get another job because 'You were head coach of the Lakers,'" he said. "There's also some comfort in knowing you're going to get fired and, while the blame will fall on you from the Lakers' ownership and front-office perspective, it won't be assigned to you by the rest of the league."
The favorable schedule stems from sharing the city with the Clippers, reducing travel. The Lakers also enjoy a reduced number of back-to-back games.
However, a Western Conference scout listed the drawbacks of the job, including the limited financial resources of owner Jeanie Buss, the internal conflicts within the front office, and the overwhelming influence of superstars.
"The team is resource-poor, in that ownership is not very rich by NBA standards," the scout said. "Two factions vie for franchise influence: the Magic crew vs. the Kobe crew. Superstar sensibilities run the franchise. Too many agendas have to be serviced. Community pressure is unrealistic and unrelenting. It's an old team with player personnel interference from its superstars. And the team is just not good enough."
The "Magic crew vs. the Kobe crew" refers to the perceived division within the front office, with one side loyal to Rob Pelinka and Phil Jackson, while the other aligns with Kurt and Linda Rambis and Magic Johnson.
The influence of the Klutch Agency, which represents LeBron James and Anthony Davis, also complicates the power structure, leaving coaches uncertain about their authority.
"Quality coaches opt for other jobs because the Lakers' search always seems to have an aspect of randomness and unpredictability, along with an extended timeline," the scout said. "With the premium other organizations are paying, it isn't worth the risk of striking out on the Laker[s] job knowing how many voices, many of whom are less than qualified, are a factor in the decision."
Despite the challenges, an Eastern Conference GM and scout still rank the job among the top five in the league.
"Being in the L.A. market is such a huge advantage," the scout said. "It seems like most players, if given the choice, would want to be there. A lot have second homes or reside in L.A. in the offseason. The history of winning and the cachet the franchise has are still factors, in my opinion, maybe not as much as in the past, but it's still there."
However, another Western Conference scout emphasized the diminished influence of the head coach due to the star power of LeBron James.
"I don't know where I would rank it, but the Lakers' job isn't appealing to me," the scout said. "Look at the list of coaches since Phil. You get none of the credit, which is what it is with LeBron. They are incredibly cheap, which affects the ability to fill out the coaching staff. And you have completely unrealistic expectations, in part from media and in part from ownership."
Phil Jackson is the last coach to have sustained success with the Lakers, winning five championships over two stints. Since his departure in 2011, the team has employed seven coaches, none of whom lasted longer than three seasons.
"The Lakers' job is very tough," said a Western Conference GM. "They have talent, but a short window, and it's championship or bust."
Despite their struggles and the emergence of younger, more formidable teams in the Western Conference, the Lakers remain ingrained with the belief that championship contention is a birthright.
"If you're the Lakers' head coach, it must mean someone thinks you're capable of winning it all," said the Eastern Conference GM. "No other franchise confers such instant credibility. Or tests its validity as ruthlessly."
The Lakers' head coaching job remains a double-edged sword: a dream job with the potential to become a nightmare.
