The Los Angeles Lakers have officially announced a multi-year deal with Frank Vogel to become their new head coach.
Jason Kidd, who interviewed for the head coaching position last month will join Vogel's staff as an assistant, as reported by The Los Angeles Times' Tania Ganguli, with Wojnarowski adding that Kidd will have a "prominent assistant coaching role" on the staff.
Jason Kidd has agreed to join Vogel's Lakers staff in a prominent assistant coaching role, league sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/ZrQRWfq1US
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 11, 2019
The team's coaching search began in April after Luke Walton and the Lakers mutually agreed to part ways, with several coaches interviewing for the position. Former Philadelphia 76ers assistant Monty Williams accepted a five-year deal to take the top job in Phoenix, while former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue withdrew from consideration for the position earlier this week, reportedly rejecting the team's three-year, $18 million offer.
Vogel did not coach in the NBA last season, following a two-year stint with the Orlando Magic. Prior to that, he spent five-and-a-half seasons coaching the Indiana Pacers, making back-to-back trips to the Eastern Conference finals, losing to LeBron James and the Miami Heat both times.
“We are excited to add Frank Vogel as the next head coach of the Lakers,” General Manager Rob Pelinka said.
“Coach Vogel has a proven track record of success in the NBA Playoffs, and he reflects the core qualities we were looking for in a head coach – including, detailed game preparation, extreme hard work, and holding players accountable to the highest basketball standards.”
“I am very excited for this opportunity to join the Lakers, a prestigious organization that I have long admired,” said Vogel. “I look forward to coaching such phenomenal talent and bringing my strategic vision to the team.”
His appointment marks the beginning of an important off-season for the Lakers, with the NBA draft just around the corner, with a host of free agents available to potentially pair with LeBron James.
The Lakers will be looking to bounce back next season after a disappointing 2018/19 season, which saw them miss the playoffs for the sixth-straight season, going 37-45, finishing 10th in the Western Conference as injuries derailed their campaign.
