Numerous names, both experienced and not, will be considered in the Lakers’ hunt for a new head coach. Recently, Evan Turner presented a strong argument in favor of Mike Budenholzer being appointed.
The Lakers still seem to be in the early stages of their hunt for a head coach, almost a week after firing Darvin Ham. There have been few (read: nonexistent) updates on the applicants who have been interviewed, and the only prospects the team has been interested in are those who may or may not be available.
It is up to fans and the media to speculate on potential players the team might be interested in. Mike Budenholzer is among the most well-known names on the list.
It’s easy to argue that Coach Bud ought to be on the Lakers’ radar since he’s one of the few available coaches with an NBA championship in his pocket. On the most recent edition of “Point Forward,” however, Evan Turner presented a more compelling and in-depth argument for why Bud ought to be the Lakers’ pick alongside co-host Andre Iguodala.
I won’t lie—I’m a haphazard fan of Budenholzer. I believe that former hooper Budenholzer traveled to a number of teams and won at a very high level, including several teams with 60 wins, a chip, and other things.
His X’s and O’s are excellent, in my opinion. Budenholzer has a style of speaking with people, and dealing with Bron requires genuine dealing skills. Not a lot of time, but you just need to be self-assured, and Bron needs to be able to put his trust in you.
I believe that some coaches have the attitude that, “No, you don’t play with this man’s ATOs,” or “You don’t play with this,” or something similar. In my opinion, at this point in Bron’s career, or whatever it is, you need a brilliant offensive mind and system that is specifically designed for him so that he doesn’t have to carry the load or the torch and can create plays at every chance. Although I’m not sure whether D-Russ will return, you still have Austin Reaves and a few other playmakers that can help you win. Also, too, you sit there and look at the lob game with AD and stuff. I feel as though Budenholzer has enough IQ to really set up a system that’ll really be efficient for Bron and really be able to help him really carry the load.”
Bud’s connection to the Suns position suggests that he will be in great demand following Phoenix’s Thursday afternoon trade of Frank Vogel. Indeed, ESPN’s Adrian Wojanrowski would later describe him as the front-runner for the position.
At minimum, it will make the Lakers’ ears perk up a bit. Maybe that forces them to move a little bit faster. To their credit, Bud is not the kind of untouchable prospective coach who is flawless. In Milwaukee, he undoubtedly made mistakes that contributed to his termination.
Turner makes a bigger argument, regardless of whether Bud ends up being the Lakers guy. LeBron’s final head coach will probably be the next one employed by the Lakers. It must be someone who exudes gravitas and commands respect from the moment they go through the door.
That doesn’t mean it can’t be an assistant, but he’ll need to be respected and relatable in order to gain LeBron’s and the team’s early support.
While Coach Bud certainly fits the bill, he’s not the only one. Additionally, he won’t be available for much longer unless the Lakers move swiftly.
