Sources: Vogel to coach Lakers with Kidd on staff
Adrian Wojnarowski breaks down how former Lakers coach Phil Jackson’s positive view of Frank Vogel helped him land the Los Angeles head-coaching job. (1:06)
Frank Vogel has agreed to a three-year deal to become the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told ESPN.
Vogel met with Lakers management Thursday and talks escalated quickly toward an offer Saturday to end the franchise’s tumultuous coaching process with his hiring, sources said.
The Lakers completed the deal Saturday afternoon with Vogel’s agent, Lonnie Cooper, who also represents LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers.
Jason Kidd has also agreed to a deal to become a prominent assistant coach on Vogel’s staff, league sources said.
The Lakers are enthusiastic about the prospect of Kidd working with point guard Lonzo Ball on a full-time basis. Kidd also has a strong relationship and history with LeBron James; the two were former teammates for USA Basketball.
Vogel, 45, was the third coach to be offered the Lakers’ coaching job. Monty Williams and Ty Lue both rejected the Lakers’ offers.
Vogel’s candidacy speaks to the significant influence of Lakers adviser Kurt Rambis and former coach Phil Jackson, whose opinions weigh heavily with owner Jeanie Buss. Jackson and Rambis had strongly considered Vogel’s candidacy in New York before hiring Jeff Hornacek in 2016.
Rambis was deeply involved in the interview and evaluation process of the coaching candidates since Luke Walton and the franchise parted ways last month.
With Frank Vogel at the helm, the Pacers were among the best defensive teams in the NBA, leading the league in defensive efficiency twice and never ranking outside the top 10 in any of his five full seasons. So how do the 2018-19 Lakers compare on defense to those great Pacers teams?
Lakers’ defense in 2018-19
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has spent the past few days gathering information among those who’ve worked with both Vogel and Kidd about how they believe those two could complement each other on a Lakers coaching staff, league sources said.
While Vogel will be judged on a difficult two-season tenure with the Magic (2016-18) that included 29- and 25-victory seasons in a rebuild, he constructed a strong reputation in his five full seasons with the Pacers, leading them to consecutive Eastern Conference finals in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.
Vogel went 250-181 while leading the Pacers, the second-most wins and second-highest win percentage (.580) by a head coach in franchise history.