Among Laker management’s issues with Luke Walton was the makeup of his staff, not having an experienced former head coach by his side.
Now the pendulum is swinging the other way.
Frank Vogel took the Lakers job with the condition that Jason Kidd — the former Brooklyn and Milwaukee coach — would be on his staff. Now comes news that Lionel Hollins, the guy that replaced Kidd in Brooklyn and was the head coach in Memphis before that, will be on the Lakers’ bench as well. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN broke the news, others have since confirmed it.
The Lakers are hiring Lionel Hollins as an assistant coach, league sources tell ESPN. Hollins is the all-time winningest coach in Memphis and also led Brooklyn to the playoffs. Hollins joins Jason Kidd on Frank Vogel’s new staff.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 4, 2019
Can confirm the Lakers are expected to add Lionel Hollins to Frank Vogel’s staff, adding another former head coach to the group. Hollins never interviewed for the Lakers’ head coach position but he was under consideration.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) June 4, 2019
So the Lakers hired a coach that was not LeBron James’ guy (because LeBron’s guy would not take the terms the Lakers tried to impose on him) and now have two former head coaches who can step right in on the bench with him. And one of those coaches lobbied hard for the Lakers job while Walton still had it. What could possibly go wrong?
Hollins in and of himself is a good hire. There are smart coaches on the Laker bench, but all three of the ones we know — Vogel, Kidd, and Hollins — are old-school offensive minds. The Lakers’ sets and style will not be breaking new ground.
How good those coaches are or are not will not matter if the Lakers can’t upgrade the roster talent this summer.