Lakers firing Frank Vogel stings even more after Jason Kidd’s comments

The Los Angeles Lakers fired Frank Vogel after a disappointing 2021-22 season in a move that the team very well could end up regretting. Most of the issues on the Lakers were not Vogel’s doing but in classic fashion, he became the fall guy for poor decision-making and roster building that ultimately led to the failure last season.

While Vogel is searching for a new job in the league his former assistant coach is heading to the Western Conference Finals. Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks outlasted the Phoenix Suns in seven games in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.

Not only is the staff led by Kidd, who spent two seasons as an assistant under Vogel, but the team also has Jared Dudley on the staff. After such a deep playoff run, don’t be surprised if Dudley is the ultimate sleeper for the Lakers’ coaching gig.

Some Laker fans might be upset that the team hired Vogel over Kidd prior to the 2019-20 season because in theory, Kidd could still be the coach of the Lakers and would be doing a better job. However, that theory is thwarted by Kidd himself crediting Vogel for his success as a head coach and ability to navigate a seven-game series against a tough team like Phoenix.

"“Frank Vogel. It’s an easy answer. Frank Vogel perpared me for this.”"

Kidd goes on to also mention his two previous head coaching jobs with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks that helped him grow as a coach, but it is clear by his answer that coaching under Vogel had the biggest impact on his progression as a head coach.

The Lakers really have to nail the head coach hire after firing Frank Vogel.

Whether fans want to hear it or not, the chances of the Lakers hiring a head coach that is worse than Frank Vogel is higher than the chances of hiring someone who is better. We all watched Vogel maneuver through the 2020 NBA Playoffs, making key rotation changes against different opponents and elevating the team to having one of the best defenses in the entire league.

All it took was one bad season for the Lakers to throw that away and find a new head coach. Luckily, Daryl Morey said that Doc Rivers is going to remain the head coach of the 76ers so the Lakers cannot make that painfully bad hire.

But even if it is someone like Quin Snyder, the Lakers are going to get someone who is worse than Vogel. The team’s best chance is to hire an assistant like Darvin Ham and hope he has the same kind of potential that Ime Udoka had.

That is still far from a guarantee, though. Kidd’s comments show that Vogel had a much bigger positive impact on the Lakers than anyone will give him credit for. And with the front office’s recent track record, this could end up being just another addition to the long list of mistakes.