Los Angeles Lakers: How one writer would run the Lakers
By Ronald Agers
No choice, I would have fired Luke Walton, beg Jeff Van Gundy to coach
Shocked huh? I’ll bet you thought after giving LeBron James and his representative the riot act I would keep Luke Walton on as coach?
Nope. Couldn’t do it, it won’t work.
I actually liked Luke Walton. He has done a great job considering the circumstances. I’m doing the man a favor. He will be hired in 30 seconds after he is released. Plus, I really don’t think he wants to deal with this chaos anymore.
In any rate, I can’t afford to give him a multi-year deal. The LeBron James contract locks the franchise for the next three years. Am I happy? No. But, I have to get something out of that four-year, $154 million dollar albatross contract that will be murder to trade.
He’s not going to play for Walton, no matter what the dynamics are. I know you Lakers fans are tired of waiting and a new coach will expedite the process.
Will it be Jason Kidd? No. I have the 411 on how he coaches. Mark Jackson? Please, he is a Klutch client. Why would I give LeBron James more ammunition for a corporate takeover like he did last year?
The coach I would select would be Jeff Van Gundy, the only coach I know in the NBA circles, not in Miami, that can keep LeBron James in line. I probably would beg the man to join me in L.A.
More than likely he will turn me down because it’s easier to call games and make that ESPN money. So more than likely, I will be stuck with Tyronn Lue as the next head coach.
But, the staff under him will be Alvin Gentry (He probably will be fired from New Orleans), Monty Williams and Larry Drew (He will probably be fired from Cleveland). These three guys are my insurance policy. If Ty Lue is a LeBron guy like most say, I have three great candidates to replace him.
How is all of this going to work with a guy like me that has no experience? I get people that know what they are doing.