Why Fire Darvin Ham Was Fired & What Comes Next? Who Could Replace Him for the Los Angeles Lakers?
The inevitable just became reality. On Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that Darvin Ham has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the Lakers. It’s no surprise that Ham is out because all signs pointed in this direction, but it’s actually pretty shocking that Ham, after doing such a good job building buy-in as a rookie coach with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura, saw it all go to pot during his second year. Increasingly, Ham found his decisions being questioned by players, to say nothing of fans and, reportedly, the front office, and kept refusing to take public accountability for whatever struggles. You can’t do that in a season that didn’t live up to expectations, which explains in part why Ham is out.
Still, nobody can honestly say ALL of the problems were the coach. The roster isn’t perfect, even if the oodles of supporting players who were injured stayed healthy. LeBron requires season-long maintenance. And there aren’t many obvious choices to replace Ham. Lot of pressure on Rob Pelinka to get this right.
We shall see what comes next.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: The Lakers fire Darvin Ham. How did it go so bad so quickly?
SEGMENT 2: More on why it went bad… but also why it wasn’t all Darvin’s fault.
SEGMENT 3: Who should replace Darvin? The choices aren’t obvious.
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31 Comments
Who do you want the Lakers to hire as the next Head Coach?
Hit the road Ham😆🤣
I want a coach who knows exactly what he wants to do when something on the court changes and acts quickly enough to do it. Mike Malone sees something he doesn’t like and immediately calls a timeout to adjust and fix it while ham never seemed to know what he wanted to do. We need a coach with a clear plan that player will buy into and clear direction not someone who experiments with all wing lineups and can’t choose a path
Fired, or time off with pay?
Lakers fans have been upset with Jeanie for years and it doesn't matter. She doesn't have enough money and keeps most of it.
Why? Because a 🤡 franchise does 🤡 🚗 things
🤡 franchise do 🤡 things
Lakers should've given Ham one more year. Unfortunately, the Lakers got the worst possible draw playing the defending champs in the first round…but what if they had gotten OKC instead? They probably would've won that series and he would've likely kept his job. Yeah, he made a few boneheaded coaching decisions vs Nuggs, but is it Ham's fault that neither Rui or DLo even bothered showing up vs. Denver?? Look, Mike Malone was awful his first few years and many in Denver wanted him gone after 2019 season. But their ownership stayed patient, believed he'd eventually turn things around and stuck with him… The Lakers need to stop letting LeBron run coaches out of town. He's had five coaches in his last ten years… what does that tell you?? Lebron is the GOAT alright…the GOAT at quickly getting coaches fired.
"Dismissed" not fired 🤣🤭
Why don't Lakers replace Rob with Bob Myers?
I am sick and tired of talking about SHam. He's gone and good riddance. Now who's going to assume the responsibility for this failed hiring and be entrusted to hiring a proper replacement coach and to fix the problems within this roster?
I know this is basketball but in football Bill Belicheck had a lot of "under studies " who were terrible head coaches , I would still hire Belicheck though lol , I know Bud isn't Bill but just because Ham was his understudy doesn't mean Bud is a crappy coach , he's got three 60+ win seasons , 3 times #1 seed in the east , ring in 2021 , he's a proven guy
Missed oppertunity to title this podcast "Canned Ham"
Why fire darvin ham was fired. Come on guys. You're better than that.
Now that we got rid of SPHAM the scam, whose next, to be hired, scapegoated & slammed!
Let's blame the poor play on who else but the coach, let's not blame the real culprits, upper management. People like Rob Pelinka, Jenny Buss, and the awful management of the Laker Organization, No, let's fire the coach, having lived in So Cal most of my 74 years, the Lakers went from world beaters to just an ordinary team, kind of like the Clippers!!!!
If there is doubt in hiring Budenholzer considering he was mentor to Ham and is slow in making changes through playoffs, I hope FO doesn't do it with 50-50 mindset.
David adelman, Sam Cassell look the best options if Ty Lue isn't available and still wants to continue coaching the clippers. Not sure about Charles Lee and other names floating around.
relieved to see ham gone…here's hopin the next coach will succeed
Now that Ty Lue wants to stay as a Clippers coach.. I think Hiring again Phil Handy deserve to be lakers head coach and also getting rajon rondo as assistant coach will be great for the lakers..
The LA Sacrifice has been performed yet again for one LeFraud James.
Mark J as HC Van as Lead assistant coach Rondo as a assistant coach JJ as a assistant coach Arenas as a assistant coach Kg as a assistant coach Phil handy as development coach lethal shooter as a shooting coach would be the perfect balance of a coaching staff you got everything you need in that staff
LAKERS NEED TO CHANGE THEIR MEDICAL STAFFS TOO. THIS SEASON GOT DERAILED BECAUSE KEY CONTRIBUTORS GOT INJURED MULTIPLE TIMES. PLUS I WANT THEM TO HIRE LIONELL HOLLINS AS HEAD COACH HE IS THE ONE CREATED THE GRIT AND GRIND IDENTITY OF GRIZZLIES WITH MARC GASOL AND RANDOLPH
Emergency😂
Sad they let Phil Handy go…
Fired 2 years late
I think darvin cost us a top six spot, from there you might get a good run in the early rounds of playoffs, I still think we beat most other teams in west
His biggest mistake… I honestly don’t know. Players talk when they are not winning… so I guess losing was his biggest mistake. I would only see either Ty lue if available and maybe an assistant from Miami being an upgrade or maybe even an assistant from Denver caz at least that way you know what Malone likes to run. But what do I know. Good luck lakers
Lakers are finished. No coach will come in and do better than Darvin. It’s crazy JJ Reddick name is in the air. What a joke😂
LBJ AND AD ARE COACH KILLERS
HAMM NEVER MISS A SHOT, LAYUP, FREE THROW, DEFENSE ASSIGNMENT,
GREAT PLAYERS PLAY THROUGH ANYTHING
They need mark Jackson
Hiring Darvin was like hiring a kid straight from college to be the CEO of Apple Inc.