Phil Handy was a little lost in the Lakers’ search for a head coach. Phil Handy, perhaps the only internal candidate worthy of an interview, expressed a desire to become head coach, sending a very clear signal to the team’s front office.
The message may have been received, but not returned, as there has never been any report of Handy interviewing for the position. Now, the team could face potential competition to retain him as part of new head coach Darwin Hamm’s coaching staff.
According to longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein, the Brooklyn Nets could be chasing Handy this offseason.
The coaching community is already very curious about what kind of staff Hamm will have with the Lakers. Two main questions: Does Ham really have the autonomy to make all the choices, and will David Fizdale be kept? Another: Will the Lakers keep highly-rated development coach Phil Handy…or might Handy go to Brooklyn? The Nets have needs in development following the expected departure of Adam Harrington, and remember, Handy has a long history of working with Nets guard Kyrie Irving in the Cleveland era. If the Nets were to bring Irving back, it would be handy to have Handy more closely associated with him on the staff.
Handy has never worked for the Nets, but he has been associated with the Nets in the past. Handy was reportedly one of the names targeted to join when Steve Nash was assembling his staff after taking over Brooklyn.
But the Lakers were clearly able to catch him, and may have to repeat the feat again. Obviously, having a coach with a reputation for player development like Handy is huge and showing Taron Horton-Tucker, Alex Caruso, Malik Monk and Austin on the field · Development of young players such as Reeves.
The good news for the Lakers and their fans is that Handy shared his excitement about the news following reports that the team had hired Ham.
Handy may have a strong relationship with Kyrie Irving, but he also has strong relationships with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The question now is whether that will be enough for the team to retain his services this offseason.
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