Ty Lue on Tuesday rejected Los Angeles Lakers' offer to become the team's new head coach as contract negotiations broke down, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Dave McMenamin from ESPN reported that the Lakers offered Lue a three-year, 18-million-U.S.-dollar deal, while Lue wanted a five-year contract befitting of a championship coach. In that case, Lue probably asked for some 10 million U.S. dollars a year.
Woj pointed out that Lakers adviser Kurt Rambis holds a big say in the team's search for new head coach. Rambis and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka wanted to put Jason Kidd into Lue's coaching team, assuming that Kidd would help Lonzo Ball grow faster and better as the helm of the team. There's no news about Lue turning the offer down because of Kidd but he and Kidd did not discuss working together.
Lionel Hollins (L), Mike Woodson (C) and Frank Vogel. /VCG Photo
Since they already missed their top candidates – Monte Williams signed with the Phoenix Suns, Lue pulled out of negotiations – the Lakers added three new targets onto their list: Lionel Hollins, Frank Vogel and Mike Woodson, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Of the three, former Pacers and Magic coach Vogel has the richest playoff experience (31 wins, 30 losses) and the best coaching record (302 wins, 291 losses). During his time in Indianapolis, Vogel and the Pacers competed with LeBron James and the Miami Heat from 2012 to 2014.
Hollins has a record of 262 wins, 272 losses in the regular season, and 20 wins and 21 losses in the playoffs. He used to coach the Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets. In 2011, he led No. 8 Memphis to eliminate the No. 1 San Antonio Spurs 4-2 in the playoffs. In 2013, Hollins helped the Grizzlies make the Western Conference Finals after knocking out the Los Angeles Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Woodson may have the smallest chance of getting the job. He worked as head coach of the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks with the following record: 206 wins, 286 losses in the regular season and 18 wins, 28 losses in the playoffs. His team never made it to Conference Finals. The truth is, Woodson may be a better choice for assistant coach.
What's interesting is that all of the three new candidates are well-known for coaching defense – Vogel made the Pacers the best defensive team at that time; Hollins and the Grizzlies were well-known for their slow, physical games; Woodson has always worked as a defensive assistant coach. It seems that compared with the team's terrible offense, the Lakers plan to improve their defense first – if they have a plan at all.