LeBron James may have just revealed potential Darvin Ham replacement for the Lakers.
It is no secret that Darvin Ham’s future with the Los Angeles Lakers is uncertain given the outcome of the 2023-24 season. Despite relatively healthy seasons from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Ham has been unable to lead the Lakers out of the Play-In Tournament. It became so terrible for the Lakers at one point that stories appeared about a growing schism between Ham and the locker room earlier in the season. Reports like that don’t come out of nowhere, and unless the Lakers embark on a miraculous playoff run, Ham’s career with the franchise will likely end after only two seasons.
Then the Lakers will have to select another new head coach, and while there is already one early favourite with ties to the franchise, LeBron James has begun to build the groundwork for the team to take a different path. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer recently spoke about former colleague Rajon Rondo on the new “Mind the Game” podcast, expressing surprise that he is not coaching in any capacity.
Is LeBron James setting the groundwork for the Lakers to sign Rajon Rondo? LeBron appreciating Rondo in public does not guarantee anything, but we must remember how strategic LeBron is with everything he says in the media. Nothing LeBron says is by mistake, and this might be a subliminal message to the Lakers about who he prefers next season.
Keep in mind that LeBron has a player option this offseason and is seeking for a new contract worth well into nine figures. LeBron has a history of exploiting teams, and he will likely use his contract position to achieve his goals as head coach. Does this imply that Rondo is a lock to be hired? Not at all. But LeBron is making it plain that he believes Rondo has a fantastic basketball mind and would make an excellent head coach. Thus, if Rondo is interested in coaching, the Lakers must seriously consider him as a contender.
Rondo’s lack of coaching experience may be concerning, but it does not rule him out. Ham is a former player who had no head coaching experience before being hired, but he had previously worked as an assistant. Jason Kidd and Steve Nash were hired despite having no prior expertise, and while those hires did not pan out, the precedent has been created for a franchise to undertake a similar move. And if the Lakers ultimately give in to LeBron’s demands, viewers may see them make a potentially dangerous hire like this.