Patrick Ewing shares which type of coach is a good fit for the Lakers: “It’s a person that will be able to handle LeBron”

Lakers' LeBron James gets ESPYs nod for breaking NBA record - Los Angeles  Times

With Ham gone, Pelinka’s next order of business will be to find a head coach who will suit James and Co.
Last Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers have officially been eliminated from this year’s playoff contention. After getting the “gentleman’s sweep” handed to them by the reigning champs, the Denver Nuggets, things are beginning to heat up in the LaLa Land.

The first order of business for the GM, Rob Pelinka, was to fire the head coach, Darvin Ham, after just two seasons in the position and this disappointing first-round exit. With this dismissal, the all-important off-season begins for the Purple and Gold, and with Ham gone, it will be crucial to find a new tactician who will fit the Lakers’ hot seat, hopefully, for as long as possible.

A tough cookie for any coach

Reflecting on the situation, Patrick Ewing offered his view on what kind of personnel would be ideal for this daunting task.

The top 4 centers of the 1990s – Patrick Ewing - CGTN

I mean, that’s going to be hard to say, you know. You have an agent superstar in Lebron; AD is a talented player; you don’t know if he’s going to be playing or not playing based on his history. They have some guys that are that are young but talented. It’s going to have to be a person who is going to have to be able to handle LeBron. LeBron has to give his okay to,” the Hall of Famer said on a recent episode of The Mark Jackson Show.

Even though Big Pat has not offered any specific names just yet, it’s clear that the next person in line for the LA head coach position will have to deal with the superstars, who are often not so easy to manage due to their status and ego.

And when you add to the mix “championship-spoiled” fans who are focused on winning the title each campaign, the task gets even harder for the potential candidates.

The LeBron situation is still in the air

However, the LeBron James situation is also unclear. After getting eliminated by the Joker and Co., Bron has decided to keep the public guessing about his future and a potential departure from the City of Angles, thus adding another level of complexity to this already messy situation.

And also, is LeBron going to be back? Those are all the things that you keep hearing, so I think that you know whoever they hire, they’re going to have to be able to navigate that situation with that great superstar in Lebron,” Ewing added.

The next few months will be crucial for the organization’s long-term plans. And only time will tell if they will try to build on the aging James and Anthony Davis, or will they be bold enough to fire a full-scale rebuild.

Although there are some who theorize that LeBron James has begun the process of training JJ Redick to be the next coach of the franchise, it is still a shot in the dark, and until the final decision has been made by the front office, nothing is for certain.