Frank

Vogel

Just a few days after their former coach landed a gig in Detroit, the Suns have found their man who they hope can lead them to the promise land. Vogel most recently coached the Lakers, leading them to an NBA title in the bubble during the 2019-20 season. However, he was let go after a disappointing 2021-22 campaign. Before his Lakers tenure, Vogel had coaching stints with the Magic and most notably the Pacers, leading Indiana to the playoffs in five of his six seasons at the helm. In his 11 total seasons as head coach, Frank boasts a 52% winning percentage (431-389).

Rivers, former Lakers coach Frank Vogel, and current Suns lead assistant Kevin Young are reportedly the three finalists for the head coaching vacancy. While the latter has a positive rapport with Suns players, Rivers and Vogel are the ones with prior head coaching experience. Whether or not that will enter into the thinking of team governor Mat Ishbia and GM James Jones remains to be seen, but this is clearly a job where contending for a title immediately is the baseline expectation. Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez and Nick Nurse were also mentioned as possibilities earlier in the process. However, the former has reportedly fallen out of contention, while Nurse accepted the 76ers job earlier this week.

After being let go by the Lakers after a disappointing 2021-22 season, Vogel did not coach at all this season. In 11 total seasons as a head coach, he’s won more than 52% of his games, most notably leading the Lakers to the NBA title in 2020. In addition to Vogel, former Raptors coach Nick Nurse and former Suns coach Monty Williams have also been mentioned as possible candidates for the 76ers job. In the case of Williams, it has also been reported that he could choose to sit out next season, as he’s still owed $21 million over three years by the Suns.

The Jazz have made it clear that they will take their time with this process, and their initial interview list tells us that they will cast a wide net. They have requested to interview a number of assistant coaches including Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant, Bucks assistant Charles Lee, Celtics assistants Joe Mazzula and Will Hardy, and Jazz assistants Alex Jensen and Lamar Skeeter. They will also reportedly interview former Blazers head coach Terry Stots. According to Woj, the list will continue to grow, so don’t expect any decisions from Utah any time soon.

Three league sources led Bulpett to this conclusion, though there are other rumors floating around, including Charlotte interviewing Frank Vogel. Charlotte hiring D’Antoni would be a fantasy dream scenario. LaMelo Ball would have to be considered in the front half of the first round in most leagues, while other guys like Miles Bridges and Terry Rozier could also have big years. Need evidence? Just look at what D’Antoni did with James Harden.

News of Vogel’s impending dismissal broke shortly after midnight on Monday, and it’s now official. Shams Charania is already reporting in The Athletic that Raptors coach Nick Nurse is “among the [Lakers’] top targets for the position.” He also mentions University of Michigan coach Juwan Howard as a possibility, though it remains to be seen how alluring the job really is to candidates. L.A. finished as a 33-win team this season, and the superstar core of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook looks far riskier surrounded by an expensive and aging roster. As for Vogel, the coach of the Lakers’ 2019-20 championship team should soon have plenty of offers to join benches around the league.

Just two years after coaching the Lakers to a championship in The Bubble, Vogel’s time at the helm in Los Angeles is done, so he’ll end his three-year stint with the franchise with a record of 127-98. With the contracts of Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Talen Horton-Tucker alone, L.A. will be shelling out roughly $139.8 million, which is already $17 million over the expected salary cap and just $10 million under the projected luxury tax, but sure, Vogel was likely the problem here. Perhaps the next head coach can get Russ to stop chucking up so many airballs, or maybe, just maybe, Westbrook will naturally lose his affinity for throwing the ball out of bounds.

Vogel will return to a Lakers’ team that has lost five of their past six games. They had won three of four before his absence.

David Fizdale will coach the team in Vogel’s place. The Lakers already have six players in league protocols.

There haven’t been any specific names as to who may be the reason for practice being cancelled. We’ll update you when we know.