1. Scott Brooks
Scott Brooks isn’t someone that has been formally interviewed for the head coaching vacancy yet but should be under consideration. A few weeks ago, it was reported that Brooks would be one of the names that the Lakers considered for their head coaching vacancy.
Brooks is someone that the Los Angeles Lakers were targeting for their coaching staff last offseason, but he ended up taking a job with the Portland Trail Blazers. They offered him a bigger role, but he could now receive the biggest role on the Lakers’ sidelines this offseason.
He is an established head coach, finding a ton of success with the Oklahoma City Thunder, going 338-207 in the regular season and 39-34 in the postseason. They made the NBA Finals once, losing to the Miami Heat. He also coached the Washington Wizards for five seasons, going 183-207 and 10-14 in the postseason.
At both stops, Brooks coached Russell Westbrook. That connection could make him the best candidate for the job as he might be able to coax something out of him that Vogel was unable to do. Brooks is no stranger to handling superstars’ egos, as he also coached Kevin Durant, James Harden, John Wall and Bradley Beal.
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That kind of experience would be ideal in Los Angeles. If they are dead set on running things back with James, Davis, and Westbrook, bringing in the coach that Westbrook has the most experience playing for in the NBA would make a lot of sense. If anyone can make that trio work, it could be Brooks.
