Lakers head coach Luke Walton has mutually announced contract worth $999.4 million today.
The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Friday that head coach Luke Walton and the franchise had amicably decided to split ways.
Rob Pelinka, general manager, stated in a statement: “We are grateful to Luke for his committed work over the past three years. We’re hoping for the best going forward for Luke and his family.”
“I want to thank Jeanie Buss and the Buss family for giving me the opportunity to coach the Lakers,” Walton added in response to the change. For my family and I, the city and its business will always hold a particular place.”
After the Lakers’ dismal 37-45 season, Magic Johnson unexpectedly announced his resignation as the team’s president of basketball operations on Tuesday.
The Lakers and Walton reportedly had brief conversations, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
regarding potential next steps, but not much was accomplished because the group intended to go on.
Walton was 98-148 as the Los Angeles head coach in three seasons.
Ty Lue and Monty Williams are reportedly among the front-runners to succeed Walton, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
On the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast, MacMullan stated, “It’s clear to me, and probably to you, Brian, that LeBron’s camp would prefer a coaching change—they’re not too subtle about that.” “Not LeBron, but everyone in LeBron’s immediate vicinity. They’ve made it clear that there are many of them. This isn’t shocking, in my opinion.
Not long after the information was released, Walton was allegedly implicated
following a defeat to the Golden State Warriors on February 2 in a “emotionally charged verbal exchange” with a number of the team’s experienced players, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reports.
The Lakers’ failure to make the playoffs made things even more stunning; this was James’ first postseason absence since the 2004–05 campaign.
It seemed like the right move.
Walton was the ideal candidate for the Lakers since he was an upstart with championship experience and would be ready to stick with the organization during its rebuild.
franchise quickly becomes a victor.”
Sam Amick of The Athletic quoted coaching insiders as saying that Walton was “the most likely to feel his seat grow warm if there’s an extended Lakers losing streak” as the squad faltered ahead of their Christmas Day matchup against the Warriors.
That prediction came to pass.
The groin injury James sustained on Christmas Day played a major role in the Lakers’ problems as the club faltered towards the end of the season and missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.
Amick stated that Walton is a candidate to become the Sacramento Kings’ next head coach.
