The Lakers may have an interview with coach, David Blatt, but at this point it just seems like a formality
When discussing the possibility of hiring a new coach throughout the season the names Tom Thibodeau, Luke Walton and David Blatt were often thrown around by Lakers fans. However, now that LA’s head coaching position has been available for a few days, it has become obvious that Walton and Spurs’ lead asssistant, Ettore Messina, are widely considered as choices 1A and 1B.
At this point, Blatt has practically become an afterthought, though it was recently revealed that he was being courted by the New York Knicks and is rumored to have an interview scheduled with the Purple and Gold.
One thing the Lakers’ front office emphasized towards the start of their search for a new coach was the fact that their ideal head coach would serve as “recruiter-in-chief.” Looking directly at his first two seasons in the association, it doesn’t seem that Blatt fits that mold.
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As stated before, whereas Luke Walton brings the appeal of the Golden State Warriors and Ettore Messina brings the background and consistency of Gregg Popovich, Blatt brings with him a past that he wishes he could leave behind.
Additionally, Walton and Messina bring the prospect of a new beginning, as neither has gotten a true opportunity at an NBA head coaching gig.
Fired by the Cavaliers in January despite posting a record of 30-11, tops in the Eastern Conference, for “a lack of fit with our personnel and our vision,” according to general manager, David Griffin, the question seems to be: if he couldn’t last on a smaller stage in Cleveland, what makes the brighter lights in Los Angeles a better fit for him?
More over, how is he going to get players to respect him again after losing control of the locker room in The Land?
While it may be true that the Cavs locker room is currently filled with bigger egos than the young Los Angeles Lakers currently have, if their goal is to ultimately land a superstar, from the star’s point of view, why would they want to play for a coach that has a history of being disrespected?
More so, if the Lakers are truly trying to usher in a new era, why would they go for yet another disciple of the Princeton Offense, a la Mike Brown and Byron Scott?
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With that in mind, if the Lakers somehow land Blatt as an assistant coach for either Walton or Messina, that could be a huge power play for the Purple and Gold even if solely for the prospect of stealing his services away from another team.