Tag: Frank Vogel

Report: Lakers fired Frank Vogel for not integrating Russell Westbrook

Were the Lakers right to fire Frank Vogel as head coach at the end of the 2021-22 season?

When the Los Angeles Lakers traded for future Hall of Fame guard Russell Westbrook in the summer of 2021, it was a move many believed made them the favorites to at least reach the NBA Finals.

But due to many reasons, the Lakers sputtered loudly throughout the 2021-22 season, resulting in a 33-49 finish. They failed to qualify for the play-in tournament.

Just after the conclusion of their final regular-season game, word leaked out to the media that the team had decided to fire head coach Frank Vogel. Vogel was in his third season at the helm of the Purple and Gold and had led them to the NBA championship in 2020.

His firing still seems somewhat mysterious, and some believed he was made into a scapegoat by the organization. According to Sam Amick, Vogel was dismissed because owner Jeanie Buss felt he didn’t successfully integrate Westbrook (h/t The Cold Wire).

Starting in the middle of that ill-fated season, Lakers fans called for Westbrook to be traded. After L.A. tried him in a sixth-man role early last season, it finally sent him out in a three-team deal that brought it D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley.

Once the trade was made, it went 18-9 the rest of the way and reached the Western Conference finals. As one source put it, albeit in an acerbic fashion, Westbrook leaving was akin to removing “a vampire from the locker room.”

After leaving the Lakers, Westbrook joined the Los Angeles Clippers, and he has seemingly played better since. He has also seemed happier and is playing more freely than he ever did with the Purple and Gold.

Suns coach Frank Vogel calls out possible missed call on Kevin Durant in Spurs win

After the San Antonio Spurs’ miraculous win over the Phoenix Suns, Frank Vogel called out the controversial no-call against Kevin Durant.

In what could go down as one of the best games of the season, the San Antonio Spurs stole a win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. They took their first lead of the game with 1.2 seconds remaining in the fourth, and with one final stop, they secured an improbable win, 115-114.

However, the game didn’t come without controversy. In the final moments of the game, Keldon Johnson stole the ball from Kevin Durant, wrestling it from his arms, and scored a bucket at the rim. Durant and the Suns were perplexed as to why there was no foul called, but the outcome stood.

After the game, Suns head coach Frank Vogel spoke about the play, calling out the fact that he believes the referees missed the call.

Woike: Player development coach Phil Handy could leave the Lakers

Could Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy he headed to the Suns to reunite with Frank Vogel?

Just a year after being unceremoniously fired by the Los Angeles Lakers, Frank Vogel appears headed to the Phoenix Suns. Both sides are reportedly completing a five-year deal for him to be their head coach.

It could turn out to be a good hire for the defensively challenged Suns. Vogel is known as a defensive guru who guided the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship mainly because of their prowess on that end of the floor.

Vogel will have to assemble his staff for his new team, and, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike, Lakers assistant Phil Handy could be heading to the desert to join him (h/t Lakers Daily).

Handy is widely regarded as the best player development coach in the NBA. If he leaves L.A., it would be a big loss for the Purple and Gold.

Ranking the prominent coaching candidates for Sixers’ vacancy 2.0

Here is a new and updated ranking for the prominent coaching candidates for the current vacancy for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers are on the lookout for a new leading man after firing Doc Rivers following another early postseason exit. Rivers held the job for three seasons and led the Sixers to a great deal of success, but three consecutive eliminations in the conference semifinals did him in.

The Sixers face what should be a lengthy coaching search. They must decide which coach is the best option to help Joel Embiid and, possibly, James Harden take the next step in the playoffs.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, quite a few candidates are being considered for the position. However, in the roughly two weeks now since Rivers was let go, there have been plenty of reports about the Sixers’ search.

Here is a new ranking of the coaching candidates based on what is known: interviews, coaching credentials and team needs:

3 reasons Frank Vogel would be a good fit to be Sixers new coach

Here are three reasons why Frank Vogel would be a good fit to be the new coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers are looking for a new head coach after moving on from Doc Rivers after three seasons. The Sixers won a bunch of games, but they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals three seasons in a row.

The new coach is going to have move the Sixers closer to their title quest goals. Philadelphia possesses significant talent, but it hasn’t been able to get over the hump that is the second round.

The Sixers have met with former Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel who was mentioned as an original potential candidate for the position. Here are three reasons he would be a great fit:

Sixers have met with former Lakers coach Frank Vogel for opening

The Philadelphia 76ers have interviewed former Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel for their current opening.

The Philadelphia 76ers are beginning their interview process for head coaching candidates. After a third consecutive second-round exit, the Sixers moved on from Doc Rivers, believing it was time for a change.

The Sixers have met with former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, a champion in 2019, and former Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel, a champion in 2020.

Vogel is a Wildwood, New Jersey, native who has a 431-389 record during his time as a head coach of the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and the Lakers.

Vogel has experience coaching star players such as LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Paul George so this would be a nice fit if he were to land with the Sixers. That experience would help coach Joel Embiid and James Harden, if the latter remains in Philadelphia.

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Ranking the reported possible coaching candidates for Sixers’ vacancy

Here is a ranking of the reported possible coaching candidates to become the next head man for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers are looking for a new head man after firing Doc Rivers on Tuesday. Rivers held the job for three seasons and led the Sixers to a great deal of success, but three consecutive eliminations in the conference semifinals did him in.

The Sixers face what should be a lengthy coaching search. They must decide which coach is the best option to help Joel Embiid and, possibly, James Harden take the next step in the playoffs.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, quite a few candidates will be considered for the position. Assistant Sam Cassell is among them, and the following is a ranking of the six names that have been reported for the job:

Boston reportedly monitoring Stephen Silas, Frank Vogel to join coaching ranks

With the Celtics cohort of assistants having been devastated by departures to other programs over the last offseason and more recently with assistant Damon Stoudamire leaving to accept an offer to coach Georgia Tech, it makes sense that Boston is looking to add some championship caliber help to the Celtics organization.

The Boston Celtics reportedly have two former NBA head coaches in their sights as potential additions to Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla’s staff for the 2023-24 season according to HoopsHype’s Mike Scotto. Per Scotto, the Celtics are “a team to monitor for Vogel, along with former Rockets coach Stephen Silas, who’s also drawn interest from several NBA teams.”

The Celtics’ cohort of assistants has been devastated by departures to other franchises during the last couple of offseasons. Most recently, assistant Damon Stoudamire left to coach Georgia Tech. It makes sense Boston is looking to add some championship caliber help to the Celtics organization.

Earlier this season, Silas was seen at a practice session at Auerbach Center, prompting speculation that the son of former Celtic Paul Silas might be joining the team’s coaching ranks as an assistant.

Scotto also reports Celtics assistants Aaron Miles and Ben Sullivan could be in the running to join new Houston Rockets and ex-Boston head coach Ime Udoka’s staff next season, adding urgency to a search if that pans out.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Every head coach to win the NBA Finals since 2015 has been fired except Steve Kerr

This is WILD.

As it turns out, winning a championship only goes so far as to help job security if you’re an NBA head coach.

After the Bucks moved on from coach Mike Budenholzer on Thursday, each coach who has won an NBA championship since 2015 except Golden State’s Steve Kerr is no longer with their respective teams.

Following an elimination during the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference, despite leading them to their first championship in franchise history, the Raptors moved on from Nick Nurse last month.

Ty Lue, who won a title with the Cavaliers in 2016, was fired by Cleveland in 2018. Although he won a championship in 2020, meanwhile, the Lakers fired Frank Vogel in 2022.

COACH TEAM YEAR STATUS
Steve Kerr Golden State Warriors 2015
Ty Lue Cleveland Cavaliers 2016 Fired (Oct. 2018)
Steve Kerr Golden State Warriors 2017
Steve Kerr Golden State Warriors 2018
Nick Nurse Toronto Raptors 2019 Fired (Apr. 2023)
Frank Vogel Los Angeles Lakers 2020 Fired (Apr. 2022)
Mike Budenholzer Milwaukee Bucks 2021 Fired (May 2023)
Steve Kerr Golden State Warriors 2022

The news about Budenholzer may not come as a surprise, though, after Milwaukee’s epic collapse against the Heat during the first round of the playoffs.

Nurse, as well as Milwaukee assistant Charles Lee and Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson, are considered the top candidates to replace Budenholzer in Milwaukee.

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Rockets coaching search tracker: Nick Nurse joins fray, Sam Cassell interviews

Houston’s coaching search is now entering its third week, with 76ers assistant Sam Cassell and former Raptors head coach Nick Nurse among the newest candidates. #Rockets

Houston’s ongoing coaching search is entering its third week, with Philadelphia 76ers assistant Sam Cassell and former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse among the latest candidates to join the fray. Frank Vogel and Ime Udoka remain in play, as well. Both are expected to interview for a second time with the Rockets.

After finishing with the NBA’s worst or second-worst record for three straight years, Houston declined to pick up the team option on the contract of former coach Stephen Silas this month.

With that, the Rockets entered into a search for his replacement. As usual, led by general manager Rafael Stone, they’re casting a wide net and making plenty of contacts, with the interview list including former head coaches and current assistants around the league.

However, after Silas failed to work out after being a first-time hire in 2020, it’s believed that experience is more of a priority in 2023. Thus, former head coaches such as Vogel, Udoka, Nurse (who only recently became a candidate, thanks to Toronto deciding to fire him) and James Borrego appear to be among the front-runners.

The Raptors might also provide competition to the Rockets in the pursuit of Udoka, who could be a candidate to replace Nurse.

As of Monday, April 24, here’s a rundown of the latest reports involving various coaches and Houston’s vacancy. There’s no timetable for a hire, though the team expects this search to move faster than its previous one in 2020, which took about six weeks.