NBA Rumors: Walton Fate May Change, LaVar Ball Teased As Next Lakers Coach

Luke Walton will remain as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers until the end of the 2018-19 NBA season. However, the landscape may change from the 38-year-old mentor – something that most are overlooking.

The Lakers do still have a shot at the NBA playoffs, but they will have to string up a streak of wins to do so. They are currently 10th in the Western Conference with a 28-29 win-loss record. They trail the ninth place Sacramento Kings (30-27) and the eighth place Los Angeles Clippers (32-27).

The purple and gold obviously have their work cut out for them, with about 25 games left in the NBA regular season. For some, the odds of snagging at least the last slot is daunting, but LeBron James and company can shame doubters with a string of wins.

Whatever happens, Walton is the one in the hot seat. There have been calls for him to get fired, but this seems to be far from happening. In fact, the Los Angeles Times reported that the current Lakers coach’s employment is safe despite their record.

“Luke will definitely finish the season and he has the full support. So any talk in the media or on social media can be put to bed about Luke. He's not going anywhere. There has been no conversation about it," Broderick Turner said in that report.

A prime reason for this is that Walton has the backing of Lakers team owner Jeanie Buss. And while she said that she would leave any decision-making to Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka, it seems that the two have the former Lakers player’s back.

But the key word here is that Walton’s job is safe for the current NBA season. The Lakers are expected to pry the free agent market in the summer, and it could include a coaching change. This remains to be seen.

In the event that the Lakers do feel that a change at the coaching helm is needed, some oddsmakers have enumerated potential coaching replacements, Manila Bulletin Sports reported. Perhaps surprising is the inclusion of LaVar Ball as the Lakers next head coach.

Other names in the mix include former Lakers coach Phil Jackson, Tom Thibodeau, Kevin McHale, and Frank Vogel. But the sudden inclusion of Ball is an eye-opener – someone who had boastfully said that he could help with his eyes closed.