Terry Stotts, Mike Brown reportedly among candidates for Lakers’ coaching vacancy

Los Angeles Lakers are in search of a new head coach after parting ways with Frank Vogel last Monday. Several names have appeared in reports during the last week with some veteran NBA coaches being among the candidates.

Terry Stotts and Mike Brown are two potential candidates, according to Dan Woike and Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. Stotts is a free agent after parting ways with the Blazers last summer.

Brown has been part of the Warriors’ coaching staff under Steve Kerr since 2016. Brown coached LeBron James for five seasons early in his career. He then had stints with Cavs and the Lakers before going to the Warriors.

Stotts had a long, successful run with the Blazers starting in 2012, and he owns a 402-318 record in Portland. He also served as a coach with the Hawks and the Bucks during his 13-season NBA career.

The veteran head coach led the Blazers to eight consecutive playoff appearances during his stint in Portland. Woike and Turner also listed former Thunder and Wizards coach Scott Brooks and Jazz assistant Alex Jensen as other potential candidates.

The Lakers ended a disappointing season with a 33-49 record and away from potential NBA title contention. Vogel has been the first domino to fall as the LA franchise is expected to make massive personnel changes in the roster and coaching staff to build a capable roster around LeBron James.

“We need to do all we can to be the caretakers of his (LeBron’s) legacy and to try to build the best team we can around him. There is a great level of trust in our collaboration with him to make sure we get right this summer and fix it (the roster),” Lakers’ GM Rob Pelinka said in the exit interview.

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