As of right now, former Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer is the clear favorite to take over as Darvin Ham’s replacement as Lakers head coach.
One of the most prominent positions in sports, head coaching the Lakers, usually calls for a highly charismatic coach. Budenholzer possesses the qualifications to lead the Los Angeles-based team. He is the only active coach in the NBA, aside from Gregg Popovich, to have won multiple Coach of the Year honors and an NBA Championship.
Budenholzer coached the Hawks for five seasons between the 2013–14 and 2017–18 seasons. He began his career with the Spurs as a video coordinator. Budenholzer led the Atlanta Hawks to their first-ever 60-win campaign and their longest postseason run in 48 years while he was there.
The 54-year-old experienced even greater success during his five years in Milwaukee, leading the team to three more 50-win seasons in addition to a 60-win campaign. Above all, he led the Bucks to their first NBA Title in half a century.
Are the Lakers Going to Pay?
Several insiders claim that Budenholzer is requesting an eight-figure compensation, which is unheard of for NBA coaches. When the outgoing Ham joined with the team in 2022, for instance, he committed to a $5 million annual contract.
Insider Brian Windhorst stated during the May 6 episode of ESPN’s “Get Up” that the Lakers would have to pay a high price to lure Budenholzer.
“Hiring Mike Budenholzer will cost eight figures annually,” Windhorst declared. That is where you must begin. In addition, Mike Budenholzer usually prefers to be in charge and have a lot of power when it comes to building the roster. We’ll see if the Lakers are prepared to give it to him.
The Lakers should pay top cash for a well-known coach instead of settling with assistant coaches from other teams, like Charles Lee of the Celtics, or rookies like JJ Redick, according to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
Smith stated, “I don’t care if I have to call Jeanie Buss myself, you’ve got to pay,” during the ESPN show “First Take” on May 7. You cannot be imprudent. That is not possible for you to accomplish. To acquire the type of coach you desire, you must pay cash.
The Unforgiving Work of a Lakers Head Coach
Three different coaches have been fired by the Lakers since LeBron James joined the team in 2018: Frank Vogel, Luke Walton, and Aaron Ham. As a result, a lot of people—especially younger coaches looking to establish themselves in the NBA—have called the Lakers coaching position cruel and something that some people could be frightened to accept.
In light of this, Redick, who has the second-smallest chance of succeeding Ham, may be entering a minefield in his first NBA head coaching position. ESPN commentator Jay Williams outlined the reasons Redick might be better suited accepting the Hornets’ offer of employment.
Is it conceivable that JJ Redick will get the chance to lead the Lakers as coach? Is it the role you would like to have as your first head coach, if you were JJ Redick? Williams stated, “We’re talking about this [Lakers job] being a death trap for a lot of coaches,” during the ESPN show “Get Up” on May 6.
Prior to the June 26–27 NBA Draft, the Lakers are anticipated to reveal the identity of their new head coach. When it comes to decisions like drafting, scouting, and free agency, teams usually consider the advice of coaches.
