Possible Frank Vogel replacement for the Los Angeles Lakers: Terry Stotts
Terry Stotts is probably going to be the front runner for the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching job should Frank Vogel be fired this season.
The former Portland Trailblazers head coach for many years has been considered one of the more unheralded head coaches in the NBA. Alongside disgraced former general manager Neil Olshey, Stotts was able to build a playoff contender year in year out.
With Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, the Portland Trailblazers were always considered a dangerous opponent. However year in year out, the Trailblazers never seemed to take the next step. It didn’t help that they ran into the Warriors 3 times and the Los Angeles Lakers once, teams who would go on to win championships.
So why would Terry Stotts and his coaching philosophy fit this Los Angeles Lakers team?
Stotts philosophy on offense is simple. He gives his players the opportunity and freedom to express themselves on the basketball court.
With LeBron James and Russell Westbrook both being very expressive basketball players with high basketball IQ’s he is allowing them to judge the defense on the fly and make decisions that hopefully lead to easy baskets.
This can at times lead to a very iso-heavy offense which did work well for Damian Lillard in Portland. The consequence of playing an iso-game is that you do not get a huge amount of assists but it does dramatically reduce turnovers.
With the personnel, the Los Angeles Lakers have now, this style of play makes sense for the Lakers to adopt.
Stotts loves the 3-ball. With the likes of LeBron James, Avery Bradley, Malik Monk, Wayne Ellington, Trevor Ariza, and Carmelo Anthony all shooting about league average from the 3-point line, there could be line-ups put together that would allow for the Stotts offense to be successful for the purple and gold.
If Stotts can wrestle David Vanterpool from the Brooklyn Nets with the promise of being an associate head coach, the Lakers could be firing on both sides of the ball.