Part 6/9:
The turmoil wasn’t limited to player acquisitions. Smith pointed out that even coaching decisions have been overshadowed by LeBron's presence. The departure of Darvin Ham, a coach who led the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals, raised questions about player influence on coaching changes. The ongoing narratives around the Lakers, including their hiring choices, further illustrate the dysfunction that has plagued the franchise.
Rather than securing coaches based on what is best for team performance, the franchise seems to navigate a maze of public relations and narratives, particularly around figures like J.J. Redick, who was brought in with scrutiny surrounding his qualifications as a head coach.