Tyronn Lue Is The Coach LeBron Wants, But Not Who The Lakers Need
On paper, Tyronn Lue coaching the Los Angeles Lakers makes sense. He was a part of two Lakers championship team’s (2000, 2001), so a return to the city isn’t farfetched. What’s got everyone so up in arms is the LeBron James factor. We know why the Lakers are interested in Lue. This has got nothing to do with coaching, rather his relationship with James. Do the Lakers make this move?
You can’t really blame Los Angeles for trying to make James happy. He’s the meal ticket for an NBA title. If he wants Lue (and you know he does), Rob Pelinka is going to make it happen. That’s unfortunate for Lue. Because while it may be that he’s the Lakers guy if hired, the reason isn’t that the front office wants him there.
LeBron has that effect on the front office. The Lakers organization will do all they can to keep him happy. Again, this has nothing to do with Lue’s coaching. There are other candidates out there better than Lue. Don’t let the one NBA title fool you. Everyone knows that was LeBron’s Cavs team. Lue was simply the figurehead. He was just there to agree with James.
We know it’s going to be more of the same in Los Angeles. James knows he’s got a coach who’ll cater to him. And it’s going to be a LeBron team. He’s making a lot of the decisions. Do you really think Ty Lue has the balls to draw a play for Kyle Kuzma when LeBron is on the court?
Lue, who had a lack of developing players on the Cavs, won’t be able to figure the best ways to use the Lakers younger core. Not to mention, his rotations are out of whack (of course the same could have been said for Walton.). LeBron will be given free rein to do what he wants. Players like Bradon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma will never grow because nobody cares about their development.
There are some positives to Lue’s coaching. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to think of any without pondering it for more than 5 minutes. Not saying the Lakers would be better off with a coach other than Lue, because, quite frankly, it’s going to be a long road for any coach that has to deal with James. What is true is other coaches will have a backbone. That’s not Ty Lue.
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Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
