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Mike Krzyzewski Is Unofficial Resource For The Lakers Amid Ongoing Coaching Search
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

In the aftermath of Darvin Ham's dismissal, the Lakers are sparing no expense to ensure they find the right replacement. According to The Athletic's Jovan Buha, they've even brought in legendary basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski to help lead their search.

"Multiple sources briefed on the matter say one person who has become a respected unofficial resource for the Lakers during the process is ​​legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, whose deep knowledge of candidates, such as Redick and others, provides a lens into the culture the organization wants and the characteristics of a potential staff around the next head coach," wrote Jovan Buha and Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Krzyzewski is a bonafide legend in the basketball community. Over his decades-long career in Men's college basketball, Coach K is a 5x National Champion, 6x Olympic Gold medalist, and an iconic winner of the sport with over 1,202 victories to his name.

Unsurprisingly, NBA teams have tried many times to get Krzyzewski to make the leap to the pros, but he's always stuck to familiar territory and it's fair to say it worked out for him given his glowing reputation. If he's advising the Lakers now, it's fair to say that he's got a somewhat close relationship with GM Rob Pelinka and/or team governor Jeanie Buss.

No matter your personal feelings on Coach K, it's a wise move for the Lakers to bring in such an experienced and decorated coach to their front line and there is hope among the fans that he can help them make the right decision moving forward.

After a season of bitter disappointment, the feeling is that changes need to be made, and Krzyzewski's voice will be involved heavily from here on out. Only time will tell if he's up for the job.

Los Angeles Lakers Are Closing In On Their Next Head Coach

After admitting their mistake on Darvin Ham, the Lakers know just as much as anyone how important it is to get their next hire right. In what will likely be the final stretch of LeBron James' career, the guy who coaches him may very well make or break his final title bid.

With Krzyzewski in tow, the Lakers are unlikely to rush this process and they are expected to go through a rigorous process to narrow down their candidates. Already, there are a few names that have emerged from the rest.

At the top of the list is JJ Redick, who has established a close relationship with LeBron James. Despite his lack of coaching experience, he makes an intriguing hire based on his knowledge, respect within the industry, and his potential to develop a relationship with the players. As the man LeBron is pushing for, JJ seems to be the frontrunner right now but that could change on a dime.

Besides Redick, other names like James Borrego and Sam Cassell have emerged and the Lakers are expected to conduct some interviews with them over the next few weeks. It remains to be seen which guy the Lakers will settle on, but it's clear that many voices are playing a role in this shire. Interestingly, it seems Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss are not letting this decision rest solely on their shoulders.

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

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