Darvin Ham Looks Ready to Accept Big Demotion Following Lakers Firing

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently looking for their next head coach. J.J. Redick has emerged as the favorite to land the job but nothing has been confirmed yet. Darvin Ham, who the Lakers fired after two seasons, is also looking for his next career opportunity. And it looks like he may have to accept a demotion.

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Ham is having conversations with the Golden State Warriors to potentially join head coach Steve Kerr's staff.

"The Warriors had some conversation with former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham in recent weeks, per league sources. That isn’t expected to materialize."

- Anthony Slater, The Athletic

The Warriors are considering additions to their coaching staff following the tragic loss of assistant coach Dejan Milojevic last season. There is also a chance that lead assistant Kenny Atkinson may depart for a head coaching job, most likely for the Cavaliers.

This could potentially open up multiple assistant coaching positions. Darvin Ham may have disappointed as the head coach of the Lakers but he is still a highly respected coach around the NBA.

Before joining the Lakers, Ham was an assistant coach under Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta and Milwaukee. He was widely considered to be one of the best assistant coaches in the NBA.

Now, he may have to go back to being an assistant coach before taking another head coaching gig. Plenty of coaches in the NBA spend a couple of years as an assistant between their head coaching jobs.

Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks is an excellent example of that. After struggling in his head coaching stints early in his career, Kidd joined the Lakers coaching staff under Frank Vogel, won a championship, and went back to being a head coach in Dallas, establishing himself as one of the best in the league.

Darvin Ham could follow the same path. Working under Steve Kerr in Golden State would be an excellent opportunity to revive one's career. Even if it's not with the Warriors, Ham will be on the sidelines somewhere in the NBA.

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