James Borrego reportedly viewed as frontrunner for Lakers head coach around NBA
As the Lakers continue their search for their next head coach, James Borrego appears to a very serious candidate for the opening.
The Lakers have now been without a head coach for well over a month. The team has been connected to many different candidates and even made an offer to UConn's Dan Hurley, though he declined the "once in a lifetime" contract.
This puts the Lakers back at square one, looking for who will be the 29th head coach in franchise history.
While JJ Redick will reportedly have his first formal interview in Los Angeles this upcoming weekend, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reports that James Borrego appears to also be a serious candidate for the Lakers.
“Borrego has also been categorized by league personnel as a leading candidate for the Lakers’ head coaching job, although Los Angeles’ search has been muddied by an unsuccessful pursuit of UConn head coach Dan Hurley. Borrego has been credited with boosting New Orleans’ offensive approach during this past season while aiding Willie Green’s staff.”
Borrego is not a new name; he was reportedly one of the "initial leading targets" at the beginning of this process and has already had an in-person interview with the Lakers.
Of the rumored names connected to the Lakers, Borrego has the most NBA coaching experience.
He was the interim coach for the Orlando Magic in 2015, the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets from 2018 to 2022 and an assistant for the New Orleans Pelicans this past season.
Due to his pedigree and notoriety in the league, he appears to be in the running for the Cavaliers' job, so the Lakers must act quickly if they want to acquire his services.
Los Angeles should feel a sense of urgency at this point, given how long this search has taken and considering that the NBA Draft and free agency are just weeks away.
Entering those parts of the NBA offseason without any coaching staff would be unheard of and catastrophic, so whether the coach is Redick, Borrego, or another candidate, the Lakers must act swiftly.
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