Darvin Ham, Terry Stotts reportedly frontrunners as next Lakers head coach

The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2021-22 NBA season with title hopes. Unfortunately, when it was all said and done, they didn’t even make the playoffs.

Former head coach Frank Vogel was the first domino to drop.

Now, Los Angeles needs a new head coach.

This week, two surprising new contestants entered the mix.

“Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka made it clear that the team was going to take their time with the search and that one of the most important coaching qualities would be gravitas,” reported The Athletic NBA insider Jovan Buha.

“That suggests a coach with experience, but several of the first-year candidates they’ve been linked to are former players that are known to command respect.”

Who are the two primary candidates at this juncture? Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham and former Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts.

Both men are especially relevant in the hunt now that Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers has said his bit about the Lakers job, and Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder has been similarly disinterested.

Who will the Lakers’ next head coach ultimately be when it’s all said and done?

Time will tell.