Frank Vogel, former Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers coach, will sign a three-year contract to be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, a variety of sources, including the Los Angeles Times, reported Saturday.
Longtime NBA star and veteran head coach Jason Kidd will be an assistant on Vogel’s staff, according to the stories.
The Lakers typically make a pre-season appearance at San Diego’s Pechanga Arena.
In six successful seasons with the Pacers, Vogel had a record of 250-181, with five playoff appearances. In two seasons with the Magic, however, Vogel went just 54-110 and was fired last year.
Kidd, who as a player was one of the most celebrated point guards in NBA history, served as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, going 183-190.
The Lakers’ coaching search has been closely watched – and picked apart by commentators and critics.
According to the LA Times, the Lakers interviewed Kidd for the head coaching job in April in what some at first considered a courtesy move.
But upon meeting with Lakers’ front office personnel, Kidd made such an impression they wanted him on the coaching staff of whichever head coach they hired, the paper reported.
The Lakers are hoping Kidd can be a positive influence on talented, yet inconsistent point guard Lonzo Ball, a UCLA product whose potential skill set is compared with Kidd’s.
Vogel’s hiring comes a few weeks after the Lakers ousted previous coach, San Diego native Luke Walton.
The Lakers apparently offered a three-year deal to Tyronn Lue, who led current Laker and NBA icon Lebron James to an NBA title and two other NBA finals appearances with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lue turned the offer down, but anticipated the Lakers would make a better offer that didn’t come, according to the Times.
– City News Service