The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly received permission from the Miami Heat to interview assistant coach Juwan Howard. They are planning to speak to the former player next week, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
The Lakers have received permission to speak to Juwan Howard, plan interview him next week
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) April 14, 2019
The Lakers parted ways with head coach Luke Walton earlier this week. The frontrunners for the open position are reportedly Tyronn Lue and Monty Williams, both of whom have scheduled interviews with the organization. Howard was the bettering favorite to earn the position in some sports books earlier this month.
The franchise’s management is under question, at the moment. Magic Johnson resigned from his position as president of basketball operations prior to the final game of the season. General manager Rob Pelinka’s future is uncertain but he seems to be in charge of leading the coaching search, perhaps solidifying a role within the Lakers organization in the near future.
Howard has been an assistant coach for the Heat since 2013 and has often received some credit for the team’s defensive schemes. His first year of coaching coincided with LeBron James’s final year with the Heat. The two also played together in Miami from 2010 to 2013.
