Top 5 Options For Next Lakers Head Coach

LA's Head Coaching Search Continues

The Lakers are back to square one after spending the last few days cooking up an offer to secure Dan Hurley as their next head coach. Unfortunately for L.A., Hurley turned down its six-year, $70 million offer and will return to Storrs, hoping to coach UConn to a third straight championship.

Phill Jackson was the last coach to be at the helm of the Purple and Gold for more than three years. Since then, the position has been a revolving door with seven head coaches. Hurley's decision to decline the offer makes it very clear that the current form of the Lakers isn't a team that people will drop everything for.

What's now unclear is who the Lakers will target next. JJ Redick's name is back on the table along with James Borrego and Sam Cassell. Who else might LA go after? Odds are off the board at nearly every sportsbook right now, but scroll down to find who I think the top five candidates should be!

Top 5 Lakers Head Coach Options

1. Sam Cassell: Current Celtics assistant, Sam Cassell, is two wins away from an NBA title, something I'm sure will be attractive to the Lakers' front offense. Cassell spent 15 years as a player in the league and immediately started coaching upon retiring in 2009. He's spent time with the Wizards, Clippers, 76ers, and now Celtics. While he doesn't have any head coaching experience, he does have the same agent as LeBron James. Klutch Sports represents both James and Anthony Davis, which could end up being a major factor in Cassell landing the job. The last time this market was offered, FanDuel gave Cassell the second shortest odds at +340, tied with James Borrego. However, based on his resume, I would make him the favorite.

2. JJ Redick: The former NBA player and current NBA analyst was the betting favorite, -160 on FanDuel, before Hurley's name came into play, so I imagine he's still at the top of L.A.'s list. Redick is calling the NBA finals for ESPN, so he has yet to formally interview with the Lakers, but he said that he'll address the coaching rumors after the series ends. He doesn't have any prior head coaching experience but played in the league for 15 seasons. It also helps that he not only has a podcast with LeBron James, but a strong relationship with the superstar, too.

3. David Adelman: As the lead assistant under Michael Malone in Denver, Adelman would be bringing championship experience to the Lakers. He's coached high-profile players like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, so leading LeBron James and Anthony Davis wouldn't be much of an adjustment. He's an offensive-minded coach and has garnered a ton of credit for helping orchestrate the Nuggets' potent offense. Adelman is also the son of former NBA head coach Rick Adelman, so he has coaching DNA. His odds of landing the job were +750 on FanDuel before Hurley became a candidate.

4. Kenny Atkinson: The Warriors' assistant was a longshot at 34-1 on FanDuel less than two weeks ago. Despite the odds indicating the Lakers lack of interest in Atkinson, I believe he would be a good option. He has prior head coaching experience, which is something that, Davin Hamm, whom the Lakers just fired, didn't possess before taking over. Atkinson spent four seasons, 2016-20, at the helm of the Brooklyn Nets. Since getting fired in Brooklyn, he's spent time with the Clippers and Warriors, winning a title in Golden State. That championship experience is something that should be inciting to the Lakers front office. Atkinson has also helped develop several young players over the last three seasons with the Warriors and that development is something the Lakers seemed to value with Hurley.

5. James Borrego: Just a few weeks ago, the Pelicans' assistant coach had the second-shortest odds, +340 on FanDuel, and has reportedly already interviewed with the organization. If the Lakers felt strongly about him, they likely would have hired him by now, so betting on Borrego seems unwise. Additionally, he's also in the running for the Cavaliers' head coaching position, and if I had to guess, I believe he'll end up in Cleveland.