Perfect Lakers Head Coach Candidate Just Became Available
By Cem Yolbulan
The Los Angeles Lakers are still looking for their next head coach. After parting ways with Darvin Ham last month, the Lakers top brass has been evaluating and interviewing candidates for the job. Names like JJ Redick, Sam Cassell, and James Borrego are regularly mentioned as the frontrunners to take the gig but it's clear that the Lakers shouldn't rush their decision. New and better head coaching candidates might hit the market any day.
And that is exactly what happened on Thursday morning when the Cleveland Cavaliers fired head coach JB Bickerstaff. The 45-year-old coach is the perfect fit for LeBron James & Co.
Lakers Coaching Search: JB Bickerstaff Just Became Available
The Cleveland Cavaliers parted ways with head coach JB Bickerstaff, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and Pelicans associate James Borrego are expected to be among candidates for the job. pic.twitter.com/PVU0ZUcRGb
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 23, 2024
Not only is Bickerstaff more experienced than the other candidates on the Lakers' shortlist, he is also a particularly good fit in Los Angeles.
Bickerstaff has consistently improved the Cavs team ever since taking over in the 2019-20 season. He took the Cavs to their best finish in the playoffs since LeBron James' departure in 2018. Cleveland has punched above their weight, especially on the defensive end, during Bickerstaff's tenure. Despite starting two defensive liabilities in Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell for the past two seasons, the Cavs had one of the best defenses in the NBA.
That sort of success can be replicable in Los Angeles. Bickerstaff is a defense-first coach and the Lakers are a defensive-minded team. With Anthony Davis as the anchor of the defense, the Lakers will always be more of a defensive team than an offensive one. The Lakers also have poor perimeter defenders and Bickerstaff has shown that he can overcome that to build elite defenses.
Plus, there is another level of connection between LeBron James and Bickerstaff. JB's father, Bernie Bickerstaff was a member of the Cavs front office when LeBron won the championship in Cleveland. This could make Bickerstaff a more appealing choice for the head coaching position in Los Angeles.
If LeBron James is willing to consider someone other than his podcast co-host JJ Redick, the Lakers might not be able to find anyone better than Bickerstaff.
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