The LA Lakers were supposed to prepare a long coaching list and take their time to decide but it seems like they only needed one interview.
Just days after the report that the Golden State Warriors have given permission for the Lakers to interview their assistant coach Luke Walton as per the OC Register, the news that the coaching search was done made the rounds. Luke Walton will assume head coaching duties with the Lakers.
The experts on ESPN Insider weigh in on the coaching choice which could start a new era for the Hollywood franchise.
Marc Stein affirmed and mentioned that Walton "checks every box for the Lakers: on-the-rise coach who can connect with players and if not outright recruit free agents, certainly speak their language."
While he admits that Tom Thibodeau was the best candidate, the issues with personnel control would have probably hindered the negotiations as the franchise is unlikely to concede power the way the Minnesota Timberwolves did. Stein reminds that the Lakers had Phil Jackson, arguably the best coach in NBA history, yet they never gave control to him.
Ethan Strauss said Walton was the best given that the Lakers want to hire a coach who has ties to the organization. Walton was a player for them from 2004-2012. He was also an assistant for player development with LA's D-League team from where he went on to become an assistant to Steve Kerr with the Warriors.
Walton technically has no wins to his name because of his "interim" tag but everyone saw how he guided the Golden State Warriors to a 39-4 record. Besides, his inexperience actually bodes well for the Lakers young team after Byron Scott infamously imposed his old school principles with disastrous results. Strauss said, "the hope is he's the antidote to Scott's style of leadership."
Now, the big question for the offseason: Will Luke Walton attract free agents to wear purple and gold?
In general, the notion that players will transfer teams because of the coach is far-fetched, the exception being Gregg Popovich also that speaks about the organization itself, not just Pop per se.
The Lakers' selling points remain to be their history and the prestige of the franchise. That being said, players who hesitate on meeting with the Lakers because of the uncertainty of the coaching situation can set that concern aside.
Walton can be a bigger factor for free agency next year, as Strauss says: "If the Lakers win, Walton will help. He's charismatic, and he communicates well with current players. That might be his best attribute as a leader, actually. He exudes a laid-back likability."
There aren't any coaches that would make the Lakers an instant destination by itself-Thibodeau was probably the closest to that. Even the ties to Durant and Westbrook which was bannered by Derek Fisher and Kevin Ollie won't be enough to convince them to choose LA. All things considered, Walton was the best the Lakers could do at this point.