LeBron James and coach Tyronn Lue have a chance of reuniting in Los Angeles as Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and the former Cavaliers coach are set to met Friday to discuss the open coaching job, according to ESPN.
The meeting will take place at a hotel in Orange County that is close to Pelinka’s Newport Beach home.
The 41-year-old Lue immediately emerged as a "strong frontrunner" for the head coach position after Luke Walton was fired from the Lakers last Friday following three seasons at the helm. A few days later, Walton agreed to take over a Kings team that has missed the playoffs for 13 straight seasons.
Lue has a history with James as the two worked together in Cleveland. He was an assistant in 2014 before taking over as head coach during the 2015-16 season after the Cavaliers fired David Blatt. Lue led Cleveland to a 128-83 record in four seasons as head coach, but was fired just six games into the 2018-19 season after James signed with the Lakers in free agency over the summer.
Lue guided the team to a NBA championship in 2016 and then coached the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals the next two seasons.
Lue's relationship with James could be a selling point for the Lakers as they look to turn around the franchise. But it could also present problems in Los Angeles. According to the New York Times, "some in the Lakers’ organization may fear hiring Lue would be giving LeBron too much control."
76ers assistant Monty Williams and Heat assistant Juwan Howard are also being considered for the position, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Lakers finished the regular season 10th in the Western Conference with a 37-45 record and have missed the playoffs each of the last six seasons.
