The Los Angeles Lakers were easily the biggest disappointment of the 2021-22 NBA season, as they managed to miss the playoffs entirely (even the play-in tournament) with a roster that included LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.
That type of failure is inexcusable, especially for a historic franchise like the Lakers, who are also only two years removed from an NBA Championship. It’s therefore no surprise to hear that changes are coming, with the first big move expected to be made official at some point today.
According to multiple sources, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel will soon be fired, with the organization expected to take a long, careful approach towards hiring his replacement.
Vogel joined the Lakers in 2019, and led them to a championship in his first year in L.A. However, it’s been all downhill from there. The Lakers finished seventh in the Western Conference in 2020-21 and were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs. That was followed by a treacherous 2021-22 campaign, during which Vogel’s team finished a disappointing 33-49, good enough for 11th in the West.
Prior to coaching the Lakers, Vogel spent two season coaching Orlando. That was preceded by five-and-a-half years in Indiana with the Pacers. He’s expected to get plenty of attention from other clubs who may be looking for a new head coach down the road.
