Lakers change coach turmoil: Ham's departure is almost a foregone conclusion
In the world of basketball, every offseason is a shuffle and a new beginning. For the Los Angeles Lakers, the first wave of changes this offseason may be the departure of head coach Darvin Ham. Although it has not yet been officially announced, there are all kinds of indications that Hamm's dismissal is a foregone conclusion.
Looking back at Ham's Lakers coaching career, it can be said that it is full of challenges and controversies. In 2022, Ham became the head coach of the Lakers on a four-year, $20 million contract, which not only represents the trust that Lakers management has in him, but also means that he is tasked with reviving this traditional powerhouse. However, judging by the performance of the past 2 seasons, it seems that Hamm has not quite lived up to the expectations of management.
Under Ham, the Lakers' record has been up and down, and despite superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the team's overall performance has been inconsistent. Especially in key games, the Lakers' tactical execution and player scheduling have been questioned many times. Not only that, Hamm's speech at the press conference has also repeatedly become the focus of attention from the outside world. His remarks at key moments often fail to boost the morale of the team, but in some cases exacerbate tensions within the team. Such an atmosphere is obviously fatal for a team that aims to compete for the title.
In the G2 game with the Nuggets, the Lakers once led by 20 points, but were killed by Murray. In an interview after the game, Brother Thick Mei thought that the team didn't know what to do for a period of time. In response, Hamm responded to Brother Thick Eyebrow's doubts in an interview, saying that he would interpret Brother Thick Eyebrow's words as frustration after the loss. But within the Lakers, there is a belief that Ham could have downplayed the words of the thick eyebrows instead of rushing to exonerate the Lakers coaching staff.
In addition, communication issues between Ham and the players have surfaced. Several players have reportedly privately expressed their dissatisfaction with Hamm's game plan, arguing that the coaching staff was not well prepared and did not react quickly enough to their opponents' adjustments. Such a problem is undoubtedly fatal in competitive sports, and it directly leads to a passive situation in the game. And in the locker room, Hamm's leadership skills were also challenged. The players questioned his tactical philosophy and training methods, and this skepticism was amplified by successive defeats. When there is discord within a team, then its performance on the field is bound to suffer.
Hamm also seemed to know his fate of going out of class, and in an interview, he also began to vent his bitterness. Regarding the criticism he received, Hamm said that he was aggrieved. Ham said people always say that the Lakers don't have a consistent roster, but everyone ignores the team's health issues. Players first need to stay healthy for the squad to be stable. But he doesn't have a healthy squad. Ham also complained: "One of your starters is like 10 games in a row, just s---ting the bed, what are you going to do??"
Eliminated by the Nuggets for two consecutive years, will the Lakers continue to build a lineup around Zhan Mei in the offseason and continue to impact the championship next season? At a time when the Lakers are in turmoil, there is once again news that Curry and James are expected to join forces. ClutchPoints reporter Brett Siegel reports that Warriors star Curry will have an in-depth conversation with James to discuss his possibility of joining the Warriors before the free agency market and the U.S. men's basketball team. Curry's offer is crucial given that James is likely to think carefully about his future career path and is about to enter what could be the last free contract option of his career.
As early as February this year, the Warriors actively lobbied the Lakers to exchange James, expecting him to play alongside Curry, but this proposal did not receive a positive response from the Lakers. This offseason, James is eligible to jump out of his contract and become a free agent. If James wants to leave the Lakers, Curry's recruitment could be successful.