1. Kenny Atkinson knows how to succeed with limited resources
The Los Angeles Lakers need a head coach who understands how to make something out of nothing. Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves are far from nothing, but in an era that prioritizes depth more than ever before, the Lakers are short on it—and lack the resources to instantly create it.
If Atkinson proved anything during his time as a head coach, it's that there are few better at bringing the best out of whoever is available to them.
When Atkinson took over the Nets, the organization was in the midst of arguably the darkest period in franchise history. The infamous trade between Brooklyn and the Boston Celtics resulted in the former losing its first-round draft picks in 2014, 2016, and 2018.
Despite being without a first-round draft pick in his first and third offseasons as head coach, Atkinson found diamonds in the rough and turned them into a playoff team.
In terms of the previously mentioned starters, D'Angelo Russell was a Lakers castoff, Joe Harris was a second-round draft pick, and both Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert were drafted in the 20s. Rodion Kurucs became a key player, and just five years after the 42-win season, the 26-year-old is no longer in the NBA.
For a Lakers organization that will have to make the most of what it has while prioritizing player development that builds toward the future, there may not be a more qualified candidate than Atkinson.