Darvin Ham Fired By Lakers

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Los Angeles Lakers have parted ways with Darvin Ham as head coach after two seasons with the franchise.

Ham guided the Lakers to the Western Conference in his first season. In Year 2, the Lakers won the In-Season Tournament and lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round.

The Lakers previously fired Frank Vogel after three seasons with the club.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

[KGDirkTD_Fan]

There's no way JJ is taking this job...right? Dudes coaching career could start and end at this franchise.

[Rashidi]

If only teams cycled through GMs at the rate that they did coaches. Vogel and Ham both took the fall for Pelinka.

[Bentley1225]

This is how Pelinka keeps the job he has, smart….

[Rek]

If only teams cycled through GMs at the rate that they did coaches. Vogel and Ham both took the fall for Pelinka.

Vogel yes.

Ham is an insanely poor coach. never should have been hired.

Pelinka deserves to be fired for the whole mess.

[dougthonus]

If only teams cycled through GMs at the rate that they did coaches. Vogel and Ham both took the fall for Pelinka.

Everyone is taking the fall for LeBron.

The Lakers problems started because LeBron and AD demanded the Lakers trade for Westbrook. Pelinka made a miracle happen by dumping Westbrook and bringing back reasonable complementary pieces.

Them shuffling coaches is just a bunch of BS because LeBron needs a scapegoat that isn't him, and they are willing to put up with him being a diva to keep the franchise somewhat interesting even though there is zero chance they can build forward from where they are, it's better to maintain some relevancy with AD/LeBron than have a rebuild, so they'll continue to shuffle deck chairs to provide LeBron some cover.

Pelinka may also be anywhere from terrible to average to god, and it wouldn't matter, because this isn't a situation that can be improved without just insane luck. They do not have assets to bring in players without getting people that vastly, vastly outperform the asset used to acquire them (and there's no strategy to just get guys that vastly outperform the asset used to acquire them on a consistent basis other than sometimes you get lucky).

[hyberx]

If only teams cycled through GMs at the rate that they did coaches. Vogel and Ham both took the fall for Pelinka.

Everyone is taking the fall for LeBron.

The Lakers problems started because LeBron and AD demanded the Lakers trade for Westbrook. Pelinka made a miracle happen by dumping Westbrook and bringing back reasonable complementary pieces.

Them shuffling coaches is just a bunch of BS because LeBron needs a scapegoat that isn't him, and they are willing to put up with him being a diva to keep the franchise somewhat interesting even though there is zero chance they can build forward from where they are, it's better to maintain some relevancy with AD/LeBron than have a rebuild, so they'll continue to shuffle deck chairs to provide LeBron some cover.

Yup, the same old playbook every time, for a guy (despite playing in the minor league East Conference most of his career) who couldn't win without colluding with two more franchise players or at the peak of a pandemic where nobody really wanted to play.

That marketing propaganda has to be there to protect his "legacy", which in reality is nowhere better than anyone who actually led his own team to a championship, like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dirk Nowitzki, and the like, let alone repeated ring winners like Curry.

[tyler_rex]

If Jeannie is serious about trying to contend and not just make a buck off the Lakers name, Coach Bud is the only logical option with this roster. He has the success and title to have LeBron’s respect. Lue isn’t happening and any other available coach is just repeating Vogel and Ham, struggling to make the playoffs and getting fired within 2 yrs.

[YourGM99]

If Jeannie is serious about trying to contend and not just make a buck off the Lakers name, Coach Bud is the only logical option with this roster. He has the success and title to have LeBron’s respect. Lue isn’t happening and any other available coach is just repeating Vogel and Ham, struggling to make the playoffs and getting fired within 2 yrs.

Absolutely not! Who do you think Ham learned from? Coach Bud is horrible with making adjustments just like Ham was…

[haste10176]

If Jeannie is serious about trying to contend and not just make a buck off the Lakers name, Coach Bud is the only logical option with this roster. He has the success and title to have LeBron’s respect. Lue isn’t happening and any other available coach is just repeating Vogel and Ham, struggling to make the playoffs and getting fired within 2 yrs.

Absolutely not! Who do you think Ham learned from? Coach Bud is horrible with making adjustments just like Ham was…

This is also a horrible take on vogel who had to use westbrick.. there are a lot of better coaches but lakers choose luke walton and ham so defo needs to be an experienced coach..

[RKW34]

They might as well hire LeBron as the Player-Coach. Lmao.

[Rashidi]

The Lakers problems started because LeBron and AD demanded the Lakers trade for Westbrook.

Demanded is an awfully strong word. And numerous people in the organization signed off on Westbrook.

Pelinka may also be anywhere from terrible to average to god, and it wouldn't matter

Well, he's definitely no god. The Lakers wouldn't be anywhere right now without LeBron deciding to sign with them.

[offtherimhoops]

If Ty Lue becomes available the Lakers need to hire him immediately. He is the best fit. Reddick would be an awesome coach in general but they need a veteran coach for this Lakers team to be a contender.

[dougthonus]

Demanded is an awfully strong word. And numerous people in the organization signed off on Westbrook.

According to LeBron and AD prior to the whole thing blowing up, they sure took credit for it, championed him, wanted it to happen, and made it work. In the end, sure the management signed off, because like with this move, they want to keep LeBron happy.

Well, he's definitely no god. The Lakers wouldn't be anywhere right now without LeBron deciding to sign with them.

Fair, he's definitely not Pat Riley or Sam Presti, and luck probably swings franchises a lot more than GMs in general (it's such a star driven league and GMs don't really control getting stars), but he seems pretty reasonable too.

I don't look at the Lakers post LeBron signing and think "man someone else could have gotten 3 rings here". I'm amazed they got one.

[GunnerWRX]

So instead of firing Ham like they did with Vogel immediately after the loss which was awkard, the Lakers leaked out that Ham would be fired on Friday so everyone knows, let it marinate for a few days, without officially announcing it until Friday. Such a huge improvement and what a classy organization.

[Rashidi]

Demanded is an awfully strong word. And numerous people in the organization signed off on Westbrook.

According to LeBron and AD prior to the whole thing blowing up, they sure took credit for it, championed him, wanted it to happen, and made it work. In the end, sure the management signed off, because like with this move, they want to keep LeBron happy.

The Lakers want to make money, first and foremost. Just like every other NBA organization. This wasn't the first time they brought in a big name that didn't fit with the rest of the on-court product, and it's far from the last time.

I don't look at the Lakers post LeBron signing and think "man someone else could have gotten 3 rings here". I'm amazed they got one.

Pelinka's signature move (aside from Westbrook) was trading every single asset they had for AD (who made it clear he would have signed as an UFA in a year anyway - i.e. pulled a "Melo"). They won the title that year, so on the one-hand it worked, but it's not surprising they weren't able to run longer with such a bare cupboard. He also let Caruso walk due to $$$, in favor of paying Talen Horton-Tucker. He did not exactly coat himself in glory this past off-season or trade deadline either.

[Pickled Prunes]

Demanded is an awfully strong word. And numerous people in the organization signed off on Westbrook.

According to LeBron and AD prior to the whole thing blowing up, they sure took credit for it, championed him, wanted it to happen, and made it work. In the end, sure the management signed off, because like with this move, they want to keep LeBron happy.

Well, he's definitely no god. The Lakers wouldn't be anywhere right now without LeBron deciding to sign with them.

Fair, he's definitely not Pat Riley or Sam Presti, and luck probably swings franchises a lot more than GMs in general (it's such a star driven league and GMs don't really control getting stars), but he seems pretty reasonable too.

I don't look at the Lakers post LeBron signing and think "man someone else could have gotten 3 rings here". I'm amazed they got one.

Maybe, but the Lakers gave up a lot to keep Lebron happy, including acquiring AD and Westbrook. Those two acquisitions cost them multiple picks, plus Lonzo, KCP, Kuzma, Hart, Ingram, Mo Wagner, De'Andre Hunter. etc. They were on the path back to relevancy when Lebron flipped the script. I don't think they would have won those rings if Lebron didn't come to town, but they would be in better long-term shape than they are today.

[The Laker Kid]

Yay! Pockets is gone

[dougthonus]

The Lakers want to make money, first and foremost. Just like every other NBA organization. This wasn't the first time they brought in a big name that didn't fit with the rest of the on-court product, and it's far from the last time.

Are you suggesting the Lakers felt Westbrook was a poor fit, but they thought he would bring in a bigger following / make more money than the team already would without him? That seems pretty nonsensical. LeBron believed in the 3 star system and wanted Westbrook, it's more or less that simple.

Pelinka's signature move (aside from Westbrook) was trading every single asset they had for AD (who made it clear he would have signed as an UFA in a year anyway - i.e. pulled a "Melo"). They won the title that year, so on the one-hand it worked, but it's not surprising they weren't able to run longer with such a bare cupboard. He also let Caruso walk due to $$$, in favor of paying Talen Horton-Tucker. He did not exactly coat himself in glory this past off-season or trade deadline either.

Yeah, the THT thing vs Caruso was hilariously bad. Also not taking Conley over Russell was probably bad (though Russell has certainly had his moments). I don't think Pelinka's so great, but he seems to be a hit/miss guy. His dumping Russell seemed amazing.

Maybe the Lakers could have waited on AD, maybe not, but again, LeGM was pushing hard for that to happen immediately too. I think you underestimate the massive amount of pressure he puts on the front office at all times to do things immediately even if it creates unsustainable situations or bad long term outcomes. He's a dumbass as a GM, but he's one of the top few players ever, so you just have to put up with it.

Not sure anyone but Riley could really stand up to him, and hell, he left Riley after 4 years too.

[dougthonus]

Maybe, but the Lakers gave up a lot to keep Lebron happy, including acquiring AD and Westbrook. Those two acquisitions cost them multiple picks, plus Lonzo, KCP, Kuzma, Hart, Ingram, Mo Wagner, De'Andre Hunter. etc. They were on the path back to relevancy when Lebron flipped the script. I don't think they would have won those rings if Lebron didn't come to town, but they would be in better long-term shape than they are today.

Almost certain they wouldn't have won a ring if LeBron didn't come or if he didn't sway AD to demand a trade there. You take the good with the bad with LeBron, and the good has historically been really, really good. The bad is very manageable in comparison even if means scapegoating some people who don't really deserve it to the press.