Frank Vogel out as Lakers' coach: Here's a look at possible replacements in Los Angeles

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The Frank Vogel era as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers is over – a three-year run that included a championship in 2020, his first season with the team.

Someone had to take the fall for the Lakers missing the playoffs, and Vogel was first on the list, though roster construction and injuries were hardly his fault.

The Lakers have churned through coaches in the past decade in search of that Phil Jackson magic. The next coach will be Los Angeles’ sixth full-time coach since Jackson stepped away in 2011: Mike Brown, Mike D’Antoni, Byron Scott, Luke Walton and Vogel.

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LEBRON'S CHAMPAGNE DAYS WITH LAKERS OVER: So what does his future hold?

ESPN reported the Lakers will conduct an exhaustive search.

Don't discount the input of former Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who remains close with Kurt Rambis, the Lakers' director of basketball affairs.

So, who will replace Vogel?

We take a look at potential candidates to replace Vogel:

David Fizdale

Fizdale is a Lakers assistant, joining the staff before the start of the 2021-22 season. He coached the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks – one-plus season with each team – from 2016-2020. He was dismissed from Memphis after 19 games of his second season and fired from the Knicks 22 games into his second season. He had a playoff appearance in his first season with the Grizzlies. The key factor here: Fizdale was a Miami Heat assistant on the LeBron James teams that went to four consecutive NBA Finals and won championships in 2012 and 2013.

Quin Snyder

The Utah Jazz coach’s name keeps popping up as a viable candidate for jobs. In the event that longtime Spurs coach Gregg Popovich decides to step down in the next season or two, Snyder could end up in San Antonio. Snyder has declined recent opportunities to sign an extension, but it’s unclear how many years are left on his contract. Snyder, who has called speculation about his future disrespectful to other teams and coaches, has had success with the Jazz and is considered one of the NBA’s top coaches. However, the Lakers do not appear to be a good fit for Snyder.

Nick Nurse

The Toronto Raptors coach is a great and innovative Xs and Os guy who is also adept at making changes on the fly and developing talent. Like Snyder, Nurse is considered one of the top coaches in the league. He won a title with the Raptors in 2019 and guided this season’s team to a solid fifth-place finish. It can be argued that Nurse has a better and more promising roster with the Raptors than the Lakers have right now. No matter, there is always the allure of coaching the Lakers and LeBron James. According to a complaint filed against Nurse by his former agent, Nurse's contract with the Raptors runs through the 2023-24 season. It's possible the Raptors would let Nurse walk without compensation, and Nurse has formed a relationship with former Lakers coach Phil Jackson who talks regularly with Lakers director of basketball affairs Kurt Rambis.

Doc Rivers

If the Philadelphia 76ers don’t make a deep run in the playoffs, Rivers could be out in Philadelphia. Rivers and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey may not be mortal enemies, but they don’t necessarily see eye to eye on basketball philosophy. Morey didn’t hire Rivers, joining the Sixers after Rivers had been hired. A quick playoff exit would give Morey the chance to make the hire he wants – and give Rivers a chance to get another job elsewhere.

Juwan Howard

Word has been brewing in Michigan that the Lakers may make a run at the Wolverines men’s coach who has had success in a short time as a head coach, including an NCAA regional final appearance in 2021 and regional semifinal appearance in 2022. It’s another coach with a James connection: the two were teammates in Miami and then Howard was a Heat assistant at the end of James’ tenure with Miami. His time at Michigan has given him head coaching experience but this season was difficult with a suspension near the end of the season over a hand-shake altercation against Wisconsin. 

Mark Jackson

Jackson hasn’t coached since 2014 but has often indicated if the right job were available to him, he would have interest. Jackson has a good relationship with Klutch Sports’ Rich Paul, who represents James and Anthony Davis. It’s probably a long shot but one that shouldn’t be dismissed automatically with the Paul-Jackson connection. What influence Klutch has in a coaching search is unknown, but Paul will be in the know.

Terry Stotts

The former Portland Trail Blazers was regarded as a solid coach during his nine seasons in Portland that included three 50-win seasons and just one losing season. He also helped Damian Lillard’s rise to All-Star guard and won without the best roster in the league. Stotts has the offensive creativity that could help the Lakers, James and Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook if he's not traded or waived.

Sam Cassell

The longtime NBA assistant coach now with Philadelphia has never been a head coach despite his experience on NBA benches working for Flip Saunders, Randy Wittman and Doc Rivers. He is also a former player in a league where players appreciate coaching from guys who played in the NBA.

John Calipari

The Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball coach had a brief and unsuccessful foray in the NBA, but that was more than 20 years ago. Several of his Kentucky players have signed with Klutch for the NBA representation, so Calipari and Paul have a good relationship. Calipari has a better relationship with New York Knicks front office execs Leon Rose and William Wesley. Calipari hasn’t been to the Final Four with Kentucky since 2015 and his only title with the Wildcats came in 2012. It’s probably unlikely he leaves Kentucky with a big season ahead in 2022-23.

Kurt Rambis

Rambis has been a head coach with Minnesota (two seasons and a combined 32 victories) and an interim coach with the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. The former Lakers forward, whose wife Linda is a longtime Lakers employee, has spent most of his time on a bench as an assistant or associate head coach. He rejoined the Lakers as a senior basketball advisor in 2018 and moved to his current role in 2020. It's more likely he remains in the front office.

Dave Joerger

Joerger, a recent cancer survivor, was the head coach for Memphis and Sacramento and has a track record of getting the most out of his teams. He has been an assistant for Philadelphia and Doc Rivers the past two seasons. Joerger also has the personality that can withstand the spotlight while providing an authoritative voice in the locker room.