It’s already pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Los Angeles Lakers will move on from embattled head coach Luke Walton following the 2018-19 season.
Finishing up a season that has seen LeBron James miss the playoffs for the first time since 2005, the Lakers might very well be looking to cater to their new star.
Having seen the likes of Doc Rivers and Jason Kidd bandied about as potential replacements, this report from Marc Stein of The NY Times suggests that the Lakers are interested in Dallas Mavericks head man Rick Carlisle.
“I’m told that the Lakers, who are widely expected to dismiss the beleaguered Luke Walton at season’s end, are also big fans of Dallas’ Rick Carlisle,” Stein noted in his most-recent newsletter.
The NBA insider goes on to note that Carlisle’s contract with the Mavs was “quietly” revised prior to the season. Said deal extended him through the 2022-23 campaign. What this means is anyone’s guess, but it could be more difficult for Los Angeles to pry him away from Big D.
One of the most-respected head coaches in the Association, the 59-year-old Carlisle has manned the Mavericks’ bench for the past decade-plus. Prior to that, he served as the head coach in Detroit and Indiana. He led Dallas to the NBA title back in 2010-11.