After an early playoff exit this spring, the Los Angeles Lakers decided it was time to move on from head coach Darvin Ham.

Ham was hired just two years ago and had taken the team to the Western Conference Finals a year ago, but in the world that is the Lakers, that isn’t good enough. Los Angeles demands excellence from its team and coaching staff, something Ham couldn’t live up to.

He came under fire this past season due to his inability to make in-game adjustments when needed. Ham also never took accountability for his mistakes, something that rubbed the players and organization the wrong way.

Los Angeles will now be looking for their third head coaching hire since 2020 and they are hoping the third time is the charm. Los Angeles wants stability at the coaching position, but the club’s inability to identify the right person for the job has been troubling.

Rumors have been flying about the potential of them going after Tyronn Lue if he is let go by the Los Angeles Clippers, but all signs point to the two sides staying together.

In fact, Lue mentioned that he hopes to stay with the Clippers for a long time. He has built up strong relationships with members of the Clippers’ front office and would love to continue working alongside them,

Lue likely staying with the Clippers would serve as a blow to the Lakers’ plans. But even if Lue did want to join the Lakers, Los Angeles would need to give the Clippers some type of compensation, unless he was fired. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer isn’t just going to hand Lue over to the inter-city rivals so a firing is unlikely.

The connection that Lue has with Lakers superstar LeBron James has made him their primary target. Lue led James’ Cleveland Cavaliers clubs to three consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2016-18, including a win in ’16.

But Los Angeles will likely have to look elsewhere for its new head coach. Names such as Mike Budenholzer, Kenny Atkinson, and JJ Redick have surfaced for the Lakers, but they are expected to take their time executing interviews.

The hope for the Lakers is that they can find the right person to lead the ship forward, maximizing the potential of the roster that the front office puts together.

James can become a free agent this summer as well, but all indications are that he will remain with the team for his final few years in the NBA. As it always is for the Lakers, it will be a drama-filled summer but one that could dictate how the next decade goes for this franchise.