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Los Angeles Lakers: Juwan Howard would be the perfect hire for LeBron

By Jason Reed

MIAMI, FL - JUNE 21: Juwan Howard #5 of the Miami Heat celebrates with LeBron James #6 late in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Five of the 2012 NBA Finals on June 21, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JUNE 21: Juwan Howard #5 of the Miami Heat celebrates with LeBron James #6 late in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Five of the 2012 NBA Finals on June 21, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers are searching for the team’s next head coach and a new name has emerged as a potential favorite in Juwan Howard.

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently in the process of looking for a new head coach after agreeing to part ways with former head coach, Luke Walton, after just two seasons.

The early favorites for the job were former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Ty Lue, current Philadelphia 76ers assistant Monty Williams and former Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks head coach, Jason Kidd.

The response to those three has been vastly different. Most of the fanbase seems to prefer if Williams got the job, but would not feel too slighted if it ended up being Lue. Kidd, on the other hand, has not been a popular candidate and it is safe to say the fanbase would be upset if he got the job.

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A fourth name has since thrown his name in the hat and to some might even have emerged as the favorite for the job. Current Miami Heat assistant and former 19-year pro, Juwan Howard, has reportedly impressed the Lakers front office.

Based on Howard’s background not only as a coach but as a player it is evident that this is the perfect head coach signing for LeBron James, which is obviously one of the biggest things the front office is considering after Walton failed to mesh with James.

Howard had a very similar playing career as Lue had when he became head coach of the Cavaliers. And it might sound a bit trivial but it is a good thing that Howard was never really a star, like Lue. Being a role player for two decades can be more beneficial than just being a star and hoping that star power translates to coaching.

I mean, look at Kidd’s career as a head coach compared to Steve Kerr‘s or Mike D’Antoni‘s. It is important that there is no battling egos with LeBron and these long-time role players have been around other stars their entire career and know how to handle situations.

It helps too that Howard has familiarity with LeBron. The duo played together for three seasons on the Miami Heat, although Howard never averaged more than 10.4 minutes per game in that span. He then started his career as an assistant in LeBron’s last year in Miami.

It is that Heat connection that would make this such a perfect signing for LeBron. The Heat is really the only team that kept their infrastructure intact and were able to handle LeBron without bringing in outside help.

Miami is one of the best-run organizations in the NBA and James definitely realized that when he played for them and still realizes that now. If the Lakers are searching for a sense of stability, Howard is the guy.

Redick would be perfect in LA. dark. Next

We’ll see what the Los Angeles Lakers end up doing with their head coaching vacancy but if past trends are any indication, the team is going to likely hire Juwan Howard as the new head coach.

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