The Los Angeles Lakers and head coach Luke Walton have "mutually agreed" to part ways, per the team's official release.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Luke Walton have mutually agreed to part ways.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 12, 2019
"We would like to thank Luke for his dedicated service over the last three years," said General Manager Rob Pelinka. "We wish Luke and his family the best of luck moving forward."https://t.co/3cgU3WPgnJ
This doesn't come as much of a surprise as the writing was on the wall when the Lakers' season took a turn for the worse, failing to make the playoffs in the first year of LeBron James' new contract.
The Lakers finished 10th in the Western Conference with a record of 37-45, more than 10 wins short of what they were projected for in the beginning of the season.
"We would like to thank Luke for his dedicated service over the last three years," said Lakers' General Manager Rob Pelinka in the official release. "We wish Luke and his family the best of luck moving forward."
"I want to thank Jeanie Buss and the Buss family for giving me the opportunity to coach the Lakers," said former head coach Luke Walton. "This franchise and the city will always be special to me and my family."
Per Sam Amick of The Athletic, Kings' GM Vlade Divac is expected to reach out to Walton to schedule an interview for Sacramento's head coaching vacancy.
Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Tyronn Lue's name is at the head of the list to fill the Lakers' coaching vacancy. He also mentioned that Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Monty Williams is another candidate for the position, with the process "expected to be centered on (Lue and Williams)."
Sixers assistant Monty Williams joins Ty Lue as the central candidates in the Lakers search, league sources tell ESPN. Process is expected to center on them.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 12, 2019
