3. Kenny Atkinson

The Los Angeles Lakers received permission to interview Kenny Atkinson for their head coaching job earlier this week. Atkinson has spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors after spending last season on Tyronn Lue’s staff with the LA Clippers.

That followed a stint as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets that lasted just under four seasons, as he and the Nets parted ways just before the league shut down for COVID-19. He went 118-190 during his tenure there but did an excellent job of turning around a franchise that had very little to get excited about.

The job he did is a big reason that stars such as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving wanted to go there. However, that was ultimately his undoing as well, as he was unable to connect with them and was removed as head coach as a result.

Would he have similar issues coaching stars like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook? It is a fair question to ask, but he likely learned a lot being on staff and helping coach the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.

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Atkinson is best known for developing players, so he may not be the best fit for the Lakers right now. Alas, they are going to have a roster filled with guys on veteran’s minimum contracts, so they could fill the roster out with younger players looking for a chance to make an impact that Atkinson can help develop. 

Talen Horton-Tucker is one player that comes to mind that would benefit greatly from Atkinson’s tutelage.