Lakers Rumors: Jason Kidd could be Luke Walton’s replacement

Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve the coaching staff, as it is being reported Jason Kidd could possibly succeed Luke Walton.

With the NBA Trade Deadline less than a week away, Los Angeles Lakers rumors have been popping up continuously. The Lakers are pushing hard for a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis, which is dominating headlines.

However, the most recent Lakers rumors have nothing to do with the roster of the team. Instead, they focus on the coaching staff, namely, head coach, Luke Walton.

Walton has essentially been on the hot seat since LeBron James arrived. The slow start coupled with the midseason swoon, which was mostly due to James missing 17 games, has had Walton’s name on the chopping block for a while.

Earlier in the season, it was reported that Walton needed to start winning games or his job could be in jeopardy. Walton reportedly didn’t fit the mold of the type of coach that Magic Johnson wanted to lead his team. Walton was, of course, already in place before Johnson and Rob Pelinka took over, so one could understand them wanting their own guy in charge.

However, Walton has the backing from the most powerful person within the organization; Jeanie Buss. Buss still has faith in Walton, which put to rest some of the noise reportedly coming from James’ camp about wanting a new head coach.

You would think that Buss having Walton’s back would be enough, but, Lakers rumors still persist. According to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report, there is growing momentum that Jason Kidd could succeed Walton as head coach of the team.

Dan Feldman of NBC Sports shared an excerpt from Bucher’s podcast, Bucher and Friends Podcast, detailing the rumor involving Kidd and the Lakers.

Should Buss lose faith in Walton and the team actually fire him, it sounds like Kidd will be a legitimate candidate for the job. This is something that could, and probably should, worry fans of the team.

There is no denying that Kidd was an outstanding point guard. He is in the Hall of Fame for a reason, being named an All-Star 10 times, making the All-Defensive Team nine times and All-NBA team six times.

While his accolades on the court are impressive, his track record on the sidelines as a head coach is not as great. Kidd coached one season with the Brooklyn Nets and 3.5 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. He has a career record of 183-190, making the postseason three times. He has a 9-15 playoff record, making it past the first round once, in his lone season leading the Nets.

While some Lakers fans are growing weary of Walton, there is no doubt he has done some positive things with the team during his tenure here.

The team has improved by nine wins in each season he has been at the helm and still has them at 27-25 this season despite the rash of injuries they have faced.

Moving on for Walton for someone such as Kidd would be a poor decision by the franchise. Sticking by what Jeanie Buss’ assessment is the way to go for Los Angeles right now.