Lakers Expected To Be ‘Blocked’ From Interviewing Top NBA Head Coach, per Report

The post-Darvin Ham era is officially underway for the Lakers.

On Friday, Ham was formally relieved of his duties as head coach of the storied Western Conference franchise. He ended his stint in L.A. having coached the team to a 90-74 record through two regular seasons.

The hunt for Ham's replacement is now underway - and while no finalists or leader in the clubhouse has been identified yet, it appears one of the league's top skippers could be deemed off-limits before the coaching search gets too far off the ground.

According to The Athletic , the Lakers may be blocked from speaking to Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue.

"The Clippers know they can’t upgrade on Lue,” The Athletic's Sam Amick and Law Murray wrote on Saturday. “They didn’t extend him last offseason, though they guaranteed the last year of the five-year contract he signed in 2020 to succeed Doc Rivers as head coach.

"Other teams were blocked from talking to Lue. According to team sources, that would be the case again if teams attempt to pry him away this offseason."

Like the Lakers, Lue's Clippers were eliminated from the playoffs earlier this week after entering the postseason with heightened expectations.

The series loss marked the Clippers' second straight in the opening round of the Western Conference Playoffs.

With that said, though, there have been no indications that the Clippers intend to move off Lue this offseason - and given their hesitancy in allowing other teams to interview him last year, the 'other' L.A. franchise may be content running it back with Lue once again in 2024.

Stay tuned.