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The Los Angeles Lakers are set to interview four head coach candidates this week as they look to replace Darvin Ham. Of those four, 15-year NBA veteran JJ Redick seems to be picking up the most steam. Considering recent history, Denver Nuggets lead assistant David Adelman may be the way L.A. leans.
Micah Nori on Lakers’ Radar
The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reports that Minnesota Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori is on the Lakers’ radar as well. With the Timberwolves deeply entrenched in their second round matchup against the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota may not grant L.A. permission to interview Nori just yet. Nonetheless, “if they are going the assistant coaching route, [Adelman and Nori] would probably be (some within the Lakers’) top two choices).”
Nori is an increasingly popular coach that many became interested in when he took over for an injured Chris Finch in their Game 4 matchup against the Phoenix Suns. Asked by a sideline reporter what it’s like being coached by Nori after they defeated the Suns, All-Star wing Anthony Edwards says, “he’s an extended version of coach… We listen to Micah just how we listen to (Finch), man. It’s a respect thing. He did a great job tonight.”
Anthony Edwards said they listen to Micah Nori just like they would Chris Finch. He’s an extension of Finchy and it’s a respect thing! #WolvesBack pic.twitter.com/1mMvyCiA9u
— Nadine Babu (@NadineBabu) May 5, 2024
In case anyone believes Edwards was just being polite, when he scored a career-high 51 points in April, he dedicated the performance to Nori.
“I wanted to get 50 because of him, so shoutout to Micah.”
Anthony Edwards celebrated Micah Nori’s 50th birthday with a career-high 51 points in the win over Washington. #RaisedByWolves | #NBA pic.twitter.com/qkx3Xdps54
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) April 10, 2024
That’s not enough reason to make anyone a head coach. Still, when one of the faces of the league has that much affinity towards an assistant coach, it’s worth noting. Especially a player like Edwards, who is as competitive as he is candid.
Coaching Background
Nori is one of the most experienced assistant coaches in the NBA, getting his start in 2009 with the Toronto Raptors. After spending four seasons north of the border, he’s coached for the Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons. In that time, Nori has primarily coached under Dwane Casey and Michael Malone, spending five seasons with both. He’s coached under Finch since 2021-22.
Frankly, the Timberwolves are the best team that Nori has coached for. The Raptors, Kings, and Pistons were often in the NBA’s basement, unable to muster even 30 wins. Indeed, the most successful season any of those teams had was when the Pistons managed to go 41-41 in 2018-19. However, those experiences may have taught Nori what not do, which is almost as important as knowing what to do.
On the other side of the spectrum are the Nuggets and Timberwolves. Though not quite wildly successful while Nori was assistant coach, Denver was demonstrating steady improvement. Minnesota has been in the playoffs every year since Nori signed on, with this year’s run their best yet. After finishing the regular season with a 56-26 record, third in the West, the Timberwolves swept Kevin Durant’s sons. They’re now tied up 2-2 with the defending champs in the Western Conference Semifinals. That said, Malone and Finch have taught Nori how to build a perennial playoff contender.
The Last Word on Micah Nori
With 17 NBA championships, the Lakers have high expectations. A postseason berth is expected more than it’s celebrated. Nonetheless, of the available head coach candidates, only Terry Stotts and Mark Jackson have proven they can consistently lead a team to the playoffs. Nori’s résumé doesn’t measure up to theirs but he’s highly experienced and players have gravitated towards him.
In a league where many of the best coaches weren’t expected to be as good as they are, Nori may be a sneaky good hire for the Lakers.
More must-reads:
- Why Rockets are managing Kevin Durant's future perfectly
- Draymond Green fires back at Alperen Sengun's comments
- The 'Active 20-home run MLB seasons' quiz
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Why Rockets are managing Kevin Durant's future perfectly
The Houston Rockets pulled off one of the most unexpected moves of the offseason by trading for Kevin Durant. In one fell swoop, they turned a promising young squad into a serious title contender — without mortgaging their future. And by not rushing into a max extension for Durant, they may be making the smartest choice of all. Let's start with the trade itself. In a seven-team blockbuster, the Rockets landed Durant and Clint Capela while parting ways with Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 draft pick and several second-rounders. It was bold, but they held onto core pieces like Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson instead of chasing immediate success at any cost. That’s a huge bet, not recklessness. Now, Durant is in the final year of a $54.7 million contract and — crucially — Houston is in no rush to hand him a max extension. Insiders like ESPN's Tim MacMahon and sources on "The Hoop Collective" podcast report the Rockets aren’t offering anything close to maximum money. That doesn’t mean they won't eventually, but for now, they’re holding firm. Why is that so smart? Simple, it buys flexibility. The Rockets front office under Rafael Stone has been meticulous about structuring contracts wisely. They’ve locked in key contributors like Jabari Smith Jr. and Sengun with team-friendly deals that graduate downward or have non-guaranteed years — keeping 2027 open for major decisions, like locking in Amen Thompson. Durant reportedly isn’t demanding a full-max deal, either. He’s open to a “discount,” which helps Houston make the finances work while showing respect for the team’s structure and future growth. At the same time, GM Stone and head coach Ime Udoka have shown unwavering faith in the young core. They’ve repeatedly pushed back on rumors linking the team to other stars, preferring to let their current group, boosted by Durant’s arrival, prove itself on the court. In short, the Rockets engineered a perfect balance: they bet big by adding Durant, and they stayed disciplined by not overcommitting long-term. That duality is rare. Many teams would’ve overpaid or sacrificed future flexibility — but Houston refused. You don't have to guess how this plays out. If Durant is ok with a modest extension, and the team continues this path of responsible roster-building, Houston may give him a cap-friendly home to close out his career. If not, the Rockets have set themselves up to adapt. That’s leadership. For all the noise that surrounds star-driven rebuilds, the Rockets quietly flipped the script. They proved you can chase a title and still play smart, staying secure in the notion that commitment to process — and not impulse — wins long-term. In the Kevin Durant era, Houston is demonstrating how to do both.
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Urban Meyer pushes for Chargers or NFL to suspend Jim Harbaugh
Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer thinks the Los Angeles Chargers or the NFL should take it upon themselves to punish Jim Harbaugh. On Aug. 15, the NCAA punished Michigan for violations connected to the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal. Harbaugh received a 10-year show-cause order. During Wednesday's episode of "The Triple Option" podcast, Meyer compared Harbaugh's situation to that of Jim Tressel in 2011. Meyer argued that the league or the Chargers should suspend Harbaugh, like the Indianapolis Colts did to Tressel. "There's an elephant in the room here, boys, though, that no one's talking about," Meyer said. "When Jim Tressel was fired at Ohio State and he was given a suspension, Roger Goodell, commissioner of the National Football League, came out and said that, 'We're going to honor that suspension.' And you remember, he went to the Indianapolis Colts to work in the replay room or something. "The Colts, because of the respect they had for the NCAA and the suspension, you realize suspended Jim Tressel? So he was unable to perform his duties for the first six games of the year for the Indianapolis Colts. I think we all know the answer. Any chance that Roger Goodell and the NFL, of course not. And I don't know why." There is a belief that Harbaugh bolted to the Chargers after winning the national title in 2023 because he knew the NCAA was getting ready to punish the Wolverines. A six-game suspension is not comparable to a 10-year show-cause order, and punishing Harbaugh so lightly would be more symbolic than substantive. Frankly, it's bad business for the league to suspend Harbaugh and to connect the outspoken head coach to a trivial scandal that happened in college. Punishing Harbaugh would draw unwanted attention to the Chargers and the league, who knew what happened before he jumped to the NFL before the 2024 season.
Steelers have major injury concern leaving preseason
The No. 1 priority for NFL teams in the preseason is to get out of the games without major injury. The Pittsburgh Steelers may have failed with that one on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers. Defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, the team's first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, had to be carted to the locker room with a knee injury while also looking visibly upset as he was taken back. The team announced almost immediately that he would be out for the remainder of the game with a knee injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin provided an update after the game: Defensive line was a top priority for the Steelers this offseason, especially after their playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens where they allowed nearly 300 rushing yards to end their season. Along with Harmon, they also selected Iowa's Yahya Black in this year's class to help try to beef up their line. Harmon is expected to play a major role in this year's defense and was already in a starting position. With star defensive lineman Cameron Heyward holding in as he tries to get a new contract from the team, that puts even more importance on Harmon's ability to make an impact. He has had a strong training camp, and after a quiet first preseason game, he really took a big leap forward in the team's second game, recording a sack against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Heyward returns, and if Harmon's injury is not serious, the Steelers would have the potential to have a really strong defensive line with those two joining rising star Keeanu Benton. Right now, though, those are a lot of "ifs," especially as it relates to the availability for Heyward and Harmon for the team's season opener.
Micah Parsons contract dispute: Dallas Cowboys star posts cryptic video with direct hint on future
Winnipeg Jets Strike Out: Top Remaining NHL Free Agent Joins Central Division Rival
The Jets and any other rival of the Avalanche lost out on Victor Olofsson, as the top remaining NHL free agent has just signed a one-year deal with Colorado. One of the best remaining unrestricted free agents is no longer available. The Colorado Avalanche signed forward Victor Olofsson to a one-year, $1.575 million contract through 2025-26, the team announced Wednesday. PuckPedia reported the agreement Tuesday night. Victor Olofsson entered free agency after a bounce-back season with the Vegas Golden Knights. After six seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, the team that drafted him in the seventh round in 2014, the Swedish winger signed a one-year, $1.075 million contract with Vegas this past summer. That followed a difficult 2023-24 campaign in Buffalo, where he posted just 15 points in 51 games. In Vegas, the 30-year-old regained some of his scoring touch. Although he was limited to 56 games due to injuries, he netted 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points. Not quite the 40-point pace he was in his prime with the Sabres, but Olofsson proved he could be a reliable depth scorer for a playoff team. He registered four points in nine playoff games before the Golden Knights were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round. Olofsson has 105 goals and 106 assists for 211 points in 370 NHL career games. Last spring was his first taste of playoff action. Olofsson could be the key for the Avalanche to win the Central Division Now, Olofsson becomes a part of a Colorado team that is seeking a return to Central Division supremacy after being defeated by the Dallas Stars in last season's semifinals. This could pose a problem for the Winnipeg Jets, as their direct rivals have just gotten better up front. With stars such as Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and the now-returning Gabriel Landeskog around him, he'll get the chance to find a significant role on a contender. For Olofsson, the Avalanche provides a clean slate and an opportunity to demonstrate that there is still much more to give. If all goes well, Colorado will be giving their Western Conference foes a real hard time in the upcoming season.
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