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Los Angeles Lakers: Why Luke Walton won’t be fired during the season

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Luke Walton talk during a timeout during a 123-120 win over the LA Clippers at Staples Center on January 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Luke Walton talk during a timeout during a 123-120 win over the LA Clippers at Staples Center on January 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. The in-house option to replace Walton won’t be the long-term head coach

On paper, the Los Angeles Lakers arguably have one of the best associate head coaches in the entire league in Brian Shaw. Shaw is a former Laker and has been a part of the team’s five championships since the turn of the decade.

He was a player for the Kobe-Shaw three-peat and then was an assistant coach under Phil Jackson for the back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. Shaw has 12 total seasons of coaching experience, counting this year, and seems to fit the billing of being the Lakers next head coach.

Plus, Tyronn Lue is a former player and that is probably why he worked well with LeBron. While Luke Walton is also a former player, so is Shaw.

The only problem is that the Lakers’ coaching problems extend past Walton and it really seems to be a bad culture and philosophy from the top down. Firing Walton and bringing in Shaw to be the head coach the rest of the year really wouldn’t change much, it would just change where the blame gets placed.

Shaw would be nothing more than an interim head coach and that is probably the last thing the Lakers would want as the team looks to battle back for a playoff spot.

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