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Lakers head coaching search isn’t short of candidates

By Keith Rivas

March 4, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott watches game action against Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 4, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott watches game action against Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Case For Luke Walton

January 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton watches game action against Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton watches game action against Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Luke Walton never really fit the starting role for the Los Angeles Lakers as a player, but he could remain the popular favorite as the franchise searches for their coach of the future.

It’s important to note that Los Angeles should be looking for a long term solution to what Byron Scott couldn’t handle or fix, not a feel-good hire off of popular demand.

Walton has found some interesting routes to success, as he’s been an assistant to Golden State’s Steve Kerr for the past two seasons.

The Golden State Warriors are currently defending last year’s title as the best team in the league, and arguably NBA history, in the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

To start this season, Kerr was away from his duties as he recovered from surgery and full health.

In his place, Walton was called up to take the role of coaching the most loading roster in all of basketball.

The result?

A 39-4 start, but none of the wins counted in the end for Walton.

As this report from Business Insider elaborates, the NBA rules state that all wins are credited to solely the head coach, not those put in the place of head coach on an interim basis.

Either way, the fact that Walton won 39 of his first 43 games in that scenario — a run that included a 24-0 start to the season — remains impressive.

For Walton, however, his biggest achievement as a coach doubles as the biggest downside to hiring him to work for the Lakers.

That reason lies in the fact that he had to manage a Warriors team that was fresh off of a championship, familiar faces abounding from the previous campaign, and an electric fan base.

In Los Angeles, he’d have to start from scratch, he wouldn’t have anything handed to him.

Scott was also a proven coach, but he was much better when guiding a veteran team. The same could end up to be true with Walton, with his determining factor being the amount of raw talent on the table.

He shouldn’t be the last resort for the Lakers, but it’s hard to see him remaining on the top of their list with plenty of options still available.

Next: The Case For Jeff Van Gundy

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