1. Frank Vogel
It’s both a blessing and a curse to be coaching a team with LeBron James on it.
- Blessing: When things are good, you’re loved by almost everyone and given plenty of praise.
- Curse: When things are bad, your job is almost certainly in danger. Constantly under a microscope.
Following a disappointing 37-45 season, the Los Angeles Lakers parted ways with Luke Walton and hired former Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel. Posting 29 and 25-win seasons in Orlando and then watching that same organization make the playoffs the following year, Vogel’s recent track record of success isn’t promising.
Los Angeles has completely revamped the culture and look of its team. Ending the Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram experiment in exchange for adding a top-10 player in Anthony Davis, the Lakers are in championship-chasing mode.
Sitting among the favorites to win the 2020 NBA Finals, general manager Rob Pelinka has constructed a much different roster than the one the league saw a year ago. Allocating the remainder of the non-Davis cap room to signing a multitude of veteran role players, LA appears to be geared up for a deep playoff run.
Much like James’ past coaches (David Blatt, Tyronn Lue and Luke Walton), team success is the only way to determine how safe Vogel’s job is throughout the course of the season. If the Lakers are playing well and thriving, so is Vogel’s job security. If the season ends prematurely, so could his time in Los Angeles.
With the Clippers also experiencing an offseason overhaul, the pressure to perform has never been greater in the land of opportunity.