The stench from the Los Angeles Lakers locker room is spreading across the NBA. When Darwin Ham signed a four-year contract with the most prestigious organizations in the league’s history, he knew what he was getting into. However, with that said, the added pressure of coaching the Lakers can be too much for anybody. Despite winning the first official In-season tournament and defeating the Indiana Pacers, LA has been on a downward spiral.

Their record has been dismal, as they are at 3-9 since bagging the trophy. In addition to that, they have lost the last four games out of five. Their only win in this period was against a half-injured Charlotte Hornets on December 28th. Fans have blasted Ham for failing to make the correct adjustments. In their latest loss against the Miami Heat, the addition of Austin Reaves has proven to be fruitless. This prompted the fans to ask for his firing and there is some news on that front.

In a recent Instagram post by Sams Charania, he warned Ham and the NBA world of the looming threat of him being fired. The post was a photograph of Ham with a tweet of Charania written over it that said, “There’s currently a growing disconnect between Darvin Ham and the Lakers looker room stemming from disjointedness around rotation and adjustments, per me and Jovan Buha.”

However, this begs the question: who will replace him? Here are a few of the possible candidates.

Prospect 1: Doc Rivers

In a slew of firings last year, Doc Rivers, the former Head Coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, found himself out of a job. However, many believe that Rivers was a scapegoat in the entire situation. Despite Joel Embiid winning his first regular season MVP, it was an abysmal post-season.

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The Sixers fell in the Conference semi-finals for the third straight year, in a Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics. This resulted in the firing of Rivers, but from the atmosphere around the Los Angeles Lakers, he could be the perfect man to replace Ham at the moment. The primary reason for that is he won’t have to do much adjusting as he is familiar with the culture of the city of Angeles, having spent a decade coaching the Clippers.

However, the championship-winning capability of Rivers has been in question for a while because he lost more than he won. His addition could be just what the Lakers need at the moment. He adds stability to the Laker’s core and there might be a chance that he and LeBron James can form a great bond, which will lead them to a championship. Despite Rivers’ record, historically speaking Bron can carry a team during a playoff run if the right team is around him.

Prosecpect 2: Mike Budenholzer

The potential hiring of Mike Budenholzer by the Los Angeles Lakers is an interesting scenario to explore. Given Budenholzer’s track record as a coach and his success with the Milwaukee Bucks, there’s merit to the idea that he could bring a defensive edge to the Lakers.

The mention of his stubbornness and resistance to in-game adjustments highlights a potential downside that the Lakers would need to consider. Budenholzer left the Milwaukee Bucks over the summer after a shocking first-round exit at the hands of the Miami Heat. However, the 2021 NBA Champion may make a comeback to coach the Lakers. It would be interesting to see the old-school style of Mike mixed with the Lakers.

The man has enough experience to take the team through a Western Conference playoff run. The Bucks defense has fallen off this season, which isn’t only because of Jrue Holiday. Budenholzer was an astute defensive coach, achieving similar results to what Frank Vogel did during his days with the Pacers. The difference is that Budenholzer actually got over the hump with the Bucks as well. With the Lakers roster, he could transform them into a defensive machine.

Prospect 3: Phil Handy

As we ponder the potential future of the Los Angeles Lakers, the idea of Phil Handy stepping into the spotlight as the head coach adds an intriguing twist. Picture this – Handy, the assistant coach who has been a vital part of the Lakers’ journey, taking the helm and steering the team forward. It’s not just a coaching change; it’s a move that promises to preserve the continuity built during the Ham and Vogel eras.

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What sets Handy apart is his reputation as arguably the most player-friendly coach in the NBA. Beyond the Xs and Os, he dedicates his summers to honing the skills of players, making him a valuable asset in player development. Yet, the question lingers: can Handy seamlessly transition from being a skilled coach to orchestrating the complexities of running an NBA-caliber team?

Unlike Ham, who was renowned for his defensive expertise when joining the Lakers, Handy’s coaching strengths in a head coaching role remain uncharted territory. The absence of a sample size makes it a leap of faith, and the concern surfaces that his proficiency in skill coaching might not directly translate to the broader responsibilities of leading a team.

What are your thoughts on the prospects? Let us know in the comments section.

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