Terry Stotts reportedly interviewed for Lakers' head-coaching vacancy

Former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts interviewed with the Lakers this week for their head coaching position, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Stotts, 64, was Portland’s head coach for nine seasons (2012-2021), compiling a regular-season record of 402-318 (.558). He guided the team to eight straight postseason appearances prior to parting ways with the franchise last June.

However, the Blazers went 22-40 (.355) in those playoff appearances and were eliminated in the first round in four of his last five years at the helm. They advanced to the conference finals once under Stotts, in 2018-19, when they were swept by the Warriors.

It was reported that the Lakers might consider Stotts as a candidate last month, shortly after Frank Vogel was fired. Stotts is now the third coach to be officially linked to the vacancy in Los Angeles, joining Bucks assistant Darvin Ham and Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin.

In a somewhat unconventional approach, the Lakers seem to be taking their time with their search, as opposed to interviewing multiple candidates in short succession. However, Wojnarowski previously reported that they’re still expected to consider a wide variety of names for the job.