Report: Darvin Ham could be on ‘hot seat’ if Lakers lose Game 5 to Nuggets
After advancing to the Western Conference Finals as the No. 7 last year and retaining all of their key pieces in the offseason, it’s been an unfruitful 2023-24 campaign for LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers, capping off the regular season as the No. 8 seed, won their lone play-in game against the New Orleans Pelicans to only get a date with the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets, who swept them in the West Finals a year ago.
The Lakers lost the first three games–including blowing a 20-point lead in Game 2–before staving off elimination in Game 4 with a 119-108 win Saturday night. According to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham could be looking for a new job this offseason if the Lakers don’t win Game 5 Wednesday.
“If you are a head coach of the Lakers and you get swept in the first round of the playoffs, or you lose in five, you’ve got job issues. You’ve got job security issues,” Wojnarowski said this weekend. “And Darvin Ham will have that.”
This report disputes a previous report from Lakers insider Anthony Irwin, who reported last week that Pelinka and Buss have “steadfast support” in Ham as head coach.
“One would think given all the turmoil and the fact that the Lakers had to play an extra game to merely make the playoffs the decision would be pretty straightforward, but that isn’t necessarily the case, sources say,” Irwin wrote in his Substack. “Firing Ham after only two seasons, with two remaining on his contract, would be tantamount to Pelinka admitting he, once again, hired the wrong person for the job after firing a coach who helped win the Lakers a championship only four years ago.
“Buss would be forced to ask one of her closest confidants why she is now on the hook for yet another coach’s paycheck who wouldn’t be coaching the Lakers.”
The Lakers’ win Saturday snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Nuggets, and it appears clear as day that the fanbase probably wants a change in voice.
In two seasons with Los Angeles, Ham’s gone a combined 90-74 and 9-11 in the playoffs, despite navigating a chaotic Russell Westbrook situation for a-half season plus myriad injuries to Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Davis and James. But Ham has struggled to reward their best (role) players consistent minutes when they’re available, as well as relying on smaller size in inopportune situations.
A fair counter is that its roster may be flawed and it may be missing another premier three-level scorer. They reportedly had discussions with Atlanta for Dejounte Murray at the deadline, but did not pull the trigger because they did not want to flip Austin Reaves. Assuming James returns, they will likely be “star hunting” yet again, including for Hawks star point guard Trae Young–one of the NBA’s most polarizing players, should he be made available.
The Lakers are in a tough position, and typically the head coach is the first fall guy. But there’s no denying that Ham hasn’t quite maximized the team’s talent, and it doesn’t currently seem that he’s very favorable in the Lakers’ locker room.
This will be a big summer for Los Angeles if it still intends on winning the title. If I were to speculate, assuming it fires Ham and wants a head coach with experience, possible coaching candidates could be Mike Budenholzer, Terry Stotts, Dave Joerger and Kenny Atkinson.
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