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Los Angeles Lakers: 6 potential free-agent targets with ties to Darvin Ham

By Jason Reed

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 05: Darvin Ham Assistant Coach of the Milwaukee Bucks talks with Wesley Matthews #23 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Toronto Raptors at Fiserv Forum on January 05, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Raptors defeated the Bucks 117-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 05: Darvin Ham Assistant Coach of the Milwaukee Bucks talks with Wesley Matthews #23 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Toronto Raptors at Fiserv Forum on January 05, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Raptors defeated the Bucks 117-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /
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The next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers will be long-time assistant coach Darvin Ham with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first breaking the news on Friday. Ham was previously an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks and has long been on Mike Budenholzer’s staff. Ham followed coach Bud to the Bucks after he was let go by the Atlanta Hawks.

Ham’s first assistant gig in the NBA was with the Lakers so it comes full circle that he is now hired to essentially clean up the mess and make the Lakers a contender once more. Granted, most of the things wrong with the Lakers have nothing to do with the head coach but it is still hard to not get excited about this move.

The Lakers made the right decision in hiring a savvy assistant coach who has not yet gotten his shot in the league. Ham really does seem to have great respect around the league and taking a chance on him being special is much better than hiring another retread like Doc Rivers or Terry Stotts.

It is the first step in what is going to be an important offseason for the Lakers and it could be a very influential one for how the team operates this summer.

Now, the Los Angeles Lakers may target free agents with previous ties to Darvin Ham.

Whether playing under him on the Milwaukee Bucks or Atlanta Hawks, there is a decent list of free agents who should be available for the minimum with connections to Ham. Those connections could be beneficial for those free agents as the Lakers front office gets Ham’s input on who the team should pursue this summer.

Obviously, the Lakers are not going to sign all of these free agents but don’t be surprised if one or two of these six are signed solely because of their connection with the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

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