As the Los Angeles Lakers begin the search to find their next head coach, the franchise will be looking at a number of different attributes that each potential coach can bring to the table. Guys like Luke Walton, Ettore Messina, and Kevin Ollie have all been mentioned as potential candidates.
Some coaches are better at player development while others are great at communicating. Some coaches are great at in-game strategy and adjustments, and the best are usually some combination of everything.
A number of names have been mentioned as possible candidates for the head coaching position, but according to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, the Lakers are looking for someone who can help recruit free agents to Los Angeles:
The Lakers are looking for a coach. But more than Xs and Os, more than establishing a style of play and seeking a developer of young players, the Lakers are looking for a new, “recruiter-in-chief,” as one source said.
Deveney added that bringing in someone who can pitch players on joining the Lakers is arguably the top priority:
“That appears to be the No. 1 priority,” a league source told Sporting News. “It’s not just finding a guy to work with what’s on the roster. They need a coach who can pitch players.”
While the Lakers have some promising young talent on the roster, none of the players is guaranteed to become a superstar in this league. With the Lakers hoping to turn things around quickly, they will need to bring in outside players and free agency is their best opportunity to do that.
The Lakers have failed in the past to sell players on joining the re-building project in Los Angeles. Notably, Carmelo Anthony and LaMarcus Aldridge decided against coming to the Lakers. With so much cap room this off-season, the Lakers are hoping that won’t be the case again.
