Lakers' Next Coach: Early Candidates To Replace Frank Vogel

The Los Angeles Lakers are in the market for a new head coach. It’s long been expected that Frank Vogel would be fired, and sources have told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Lakers' coach of the last three years won’t return for the 2022-2023 NBA season.

There is no clear favorite to become the Lakers' next head coach. Los Angeles is prepared for a lengthy search to find Vogel’s replacement, Wojnarowski reports. Some of the most successful coaches in recent NBA history are expected to emerge as candidates to take over in L.A.

Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder could become the Lakers’ top choice. According to multiple reports, Snyder is viewed within the league as a likely candidate to replace Vogel. Snyder has led the Jazz to their sixth straight playoff appearance, however, Utah is not considered among the top threats to win the 2022 NBA Finals.

In eight seasons as the Jazz coach, Snyder has a 636-372 regular-season record. Utah has never reached the conference finals under Snyder. If the Jazz suffer another early postseason exit, rumors of Snyder joining the Lakers are likely to increase.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers finds himself in a similar situation. Rivers has also been linked to Los Angeles as he enters the playoffs with a team that is not expected to make a deep playoff run.

The 76ers were upset in the conference semifinals as the East’s No. 1 seed last year. Philadelphia starts the 2022 playoffs with the fifth-best odds to win the East. Rivers led the Boston Celtics to a pair of NBA Finals appearances, including a win over the Lakers for the 2008 championship.

Other potential candidates with previous head coaching success are expected to include Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown, who coached James with the Cleveland Cavaliers and spent 67 games as the Lakers' head coach from 2011-2012.

Steve Clifford, who made four playoff appearances as the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic head coach from 2013-2021; and Terry Stotts, who took the Portland Trail Blazers to the playoffs every year from 2014-2021.

Vogel led the Lakers to their first title in a decade in 2020 during his first season with Los Angeles. Injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis derailed Vogel’s final two seasons in L.A.

The Lakers were the NBA’s most disappointing team in the 2021-2022 season. Los Angeles was the favorite to win the West on Opening Night, but the team failed to even reach the play-in tournament with a 33-49 record.

James and Davis are still under contract for next season. Russell Westbrook has one year left on his deal, but he’s expected to be traded.