Lakers Reportedly Had Obvious No. 1 Choice Before Hiring Darvin Ham

The Los Angeles Lakers needed a new head coach and they found one. It seems like the Lakers front office was pretty sure about the hiring of Darvin Ham. Rob Pelinka and his team fired Frank Vogel after the end of the regular season. Vogel lead the team to a title a couple of seasons ago, but he didn’t have much success last season. The Lakers were eliminated from the play-in tournament and didn’t have chance to get a ring. Maybe Ham’s hiring will change it all.

The Lakers interviewed a few candidates. Ham was one of them and it seems like the Lakers were sure pretty sure about this decision. There were several rumors about the next Lakers head coach. Many said that the team will take its time to find the right coaching option. Well, here we are, discussing Ham’s position with the team.

The Lakers had different plans before hiring Darvin Ham

LA needed someone who could take the team in the right direction. Hall of Famer Magic Johnson wanted the team to get a former player. Former players know the game and understand the pressure. LA got the message. Ham seems to be the perfect option for the team.

Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN reported that the Lakers were positive about Ham and his “history of coaching star players and championship pedigree as an assistant and player.” We couldn’t agree more.

Ham has worked with a lot of great players and he can help them understand the assignment. Plus, Ham knows the Lakers really well. He was part of the team from 2011 to 2013. He may not have a head coaching experience, but he sure knows the drill.

Here’s the twist. Ham wasn’t the very first option for the Lakers. Pelinka was ready to get Juwan Haward if he wanted the job. The Michigan Wolverines head coach passed up on the opportunity and LA moved on with Ham.

Howard and LeBron played together in Miami. He also played college basketball at Michigan alongside Rob Pelinka. These ties would have made things easier for Howard and the team. Well, LA decided to trust Ham and that’s the only thing that matters right now.