Los Angeles Lakers are facing offseason challenges as they continue their search for a new coach following the dismissal of Darvin Ham after their first-round playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets. According to reporter Marc Stein, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is set to receive a contract extension from Dallas, making him unavailable to the Lakers. This news comes as LeBron James has the option to opt out of his contract and has not committed to returning to Los Angeles next season, adding uncertainty to the Lakers’ offseason plans.
Tyronn Lue, head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, who led James to an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, was also expected to be a target for the Lakers. However, reports indicate that the Clippers are looking to sign Lue to an extension to keep him on their sideline. Despite this setback, sources suggest that Kidd’s availability is unlikely, making him off-limits for the Lakers.
With Kidd and Lue ruled out of contention for now, it seems that the Lakers will have to continue their search for a new coach without two highly sought after candidates. It remains unclear what direction they will take or who will be next in line for Ham’s job but one thing is certain; The uncertainty surrounding LeBron James adds another layer of complexity in what already seems like an uphill battle for Los Angeles as they try rebuild and get back into title contention.