Sam Cassell reportedly ‘legitimate candidate’ for Lakers head coach position

The Lakers have reportedly begun asking for permission to interview assistant coaches and Sam Cassell appears to be near the top of the list of candidates.

The Lakers are well on their way to hiring their next head coach after firing Darvin Ham. As one of the early steps in the hiring process, they have reportedly received permission to interview James Borrego, Micah Nori, and Sam Cassell, among others.

Some reports point to JJ Redick as an early favorite for the job, but longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein reported in his latest Substack piece that Cassell is very much a candidate.

“Cassell is a legitimate candidate to watch here, league sources say. He is not only represented by Klutch Sports — which is the same agency, of course, that represents Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis — but Cassell is known to have a particularly good knack in the locker room when it comes to connecting with star players. As with Ham when the Lakers hired him, Cassell is also long overdue to get a head coaching shot. It is frankly surprising (and ridiculous) that it hasn’t happened yet.”

It is important to note Cassell’s Klutch Sports affiliation as the Lakers’ two stars — LeBron James and Anthony Davis — are also represented by the same agency. A good relationship between the team and Rich Paul could potentially work in Cassell’s favor.

The Lakers aren’t the only ones eyeing Cassell’s services this offseason, as Stein also reported that the Milwaukee Bucks could potentially add him to the staff to assist Doc Rivers.

“Also circulating in Chicago: League sources say Rivers plans to make an aggressive push to bring Cassell onto his staff in Milwaukee if the former three-time NBA ring-winner as a player does not get the Lakers’ job. Cassell is currently in his first season in Boston as part of Joe Mazzulla’s staff but has coached under Rivers in nine of his 15 seasons on NBA benches.”

Cassell and Rivers have a long-standing relationship, with years of Cassell working under his tutelage. Cassell joined Doc first as a player in 2008-09 with the Boston Celtics, then as an assistant coach with the Clippers from 2014-2020 before following him to Philadelphia with the Sixers from 2020 through 2023.

So, while some may consider Cassell a head coaching candidate like the Lakers, it seems the Bucks are more interested in supporting their coaching staff than hiring an assistant who could take over in Rivers’ place. However, an assistant coaching role is never going to rival an NBA role, it more just shows Cassell is valued around the league.

With few big names available, Cassell appears to be a hot commodity in the coaching market. There is still a long way to go this early in the process before he receives a job offer or even becomes a front-runner, but if Los Angeles wants him, they’re in a prime position to get that done.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.