The Los Angeles Lakers are currently 10-10, which is good for seventh in the Western Conference. While some attribute the slow start to an injury to LeBron James, there’s no denying that there are other issues going on with this team.
Through 20 games, they rank 22nd in the league in offensive rating (105.6) and 20th in the NBA in defensive rating (108.8). Based on that, they are a bottom-ten team in the league.
The fit with Russell Westbrook hasn’t been ideal, and the team as a whole is simply underperforming. All of that combined can lead to some serious NBA rumors.
NBA Rumors: Frank Vogel is on the hot seat with the Lakers
According to well-known NBA reporter Marc Stein (subscription required), head coach Frank Vogel could be on the hot seat – just 14 months after winning a championship with the team. These NBA rumors have only been amplified by the fact that LA doesn’t have many other choices to shake things up.
Stein notes the fact that the Lakers don’t have much flexibility to make changes elsewhere. With the amount they are paying their top three guys, there’s very little financial wiggle room to make trades.
LA has struggled on both ends of the floor this year, and many would argue that they should not have given up all their depth for one star. Now, that sentiment is looking to be true.
The Washington Wizards, who received Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from LA this offseason, are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
The Los Angeles Lakers won a title with two of those three players as a part of their core. Now, they look like they could struggle to reach the play-in tournament.
After a tough end to last season, capped off by a first-round exit, LA seemed anxious to make changes. Well, they may have been too eager for their own good.
With the NBA being as competitive as ever this season, Frank Vogel has some serious work to do if he wants to keep his job, as crazy as that is to say out loud.
There just aren’t many other changes the Los Angeles Lakers can make other than a coaching change. Unfortunately, according to NBA rumors, Frank Vogel might get the short end of the stick in that regard.