Lakers HC Rumors: Frank Vogel Gets 2nd Meeting After ‘Strong’ Interview

John Raoux/Associated Press

Frank Vogel is reportedly expected to get a second interview with the Los Angeles Lakers for their vacant head coaching position.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Vogel made a “strong impression” on the Lakers during the first interview, and the two sides are expected to talk again soon.

Vogel entered the mix as a candidate for the Lakers’ open position after L.A. and former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue failed to come to terms on a deal.

Per Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin, the Lakers offered Lue a three-year, $18 million deal, but Lue desired a five-year deal. Another candidate, Monty Williams, signed for five years with the Phoenix Suns, and Luke Walton, after parting with the Lakers, landed a four-year contract with the Sacramento Kings.

Lue was thought to be L.A.’s top choice since he is a former Lakers player who coached LeBron James and Co. to a championship with the Cavs.

On Get Up! on Friday, former NBA player Jalen Rose said James should demand a trade if the Lakers don’t hire his preferred coach:

After having already interviewed Lue, Williams, Jason Kidd and Juwan Howard, Vogel was introduced into the mix as a candidate.

Vogel does not have any experience coaching James, but he coached against him plenty during his time with the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic.

The 45-year-old Vogel went 250-181 in six seasons as the Pacers’ head coach and led Indiana to two Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers lost to James and the Miami Heat on both occasions and once more in the conference semifinals.

Vogel took over in Orlando in 2016, but he went just 54-110 in two seasons and failed to reach the playoffs.

Vogel reportedly performed well in his interview with the Lakers. According to Wojnarowski and Ohm Youngmisuk, Vogel and the Lakers brass had “detailed discussions” about how he would go about guiding a team that finished a disappointing 37-45 this season and hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2012-13.

Wojnarowski also reported former Lakers head coach and ex-New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson was a fan of Vogel before he hired Jeff Hornacek as head coach of the Knicks in 2016.

While Jackson is not part of the Lakers organization, he may have some influence when it comes to the coaching search. In addition to being arguably the greatest coach in team history, Jackson was once engaged to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss.

Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times reported Jackson endorsed Lue for the Lakers’ head coaching job and told Buss he would be “a really good coach” for the organization.

The pressure is on the Lakers front office to select the right coach after a disastrous 2018-19, and the wrong choice could result in L.A. wasting LeBron’s remaining prime years and failing to become a title contender.