Fansided

Lakers Power Structure: Amid chaos, dysfunction, who runs Showtime?

By Josh Hill and Jason Cole

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 5: The Los Angeles Lakers huddle up prior to the game against the Indiana Pacers on February 5, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 5: The Los Angeles Lakers huddle up prior to the game against the Indiana Pacers on February 5, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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EL SEGUNDO, CA – MAY 20: Los Angeles Lakers hold a press conference to announce Frank Vogel as their new head coach on May 20, 2019 at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO, CA – MAY 20: Los Angeles Lakers hold a press conference to announce Frank Vogel as their new head coach on May 20, 2019 at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Frank Vogel, Head Coach (for now)

Poor Frank Vogel.

Pity is a step too far but loathing is a mile off. Vogel is the husband from musical Chicago, doomed to a life he doesn’t want and isn’t really a part of. Vogel is Mr. Cellophane.

Long gone are his Indiana days of almost making it to the NBA Finals. It’s worth noting the one thing standing in the Pacers way was LeBron James — which means he already owns Vogel.

Even Orlando was too big for Vogel, which seems a slightly unfair but is true enough he was unemployed when the Lakers were looking for a head coach. But Vogel was not only not the Lakers first choice, he was at best No. 3. After Ty Lue passed and Monty Williams chose the desert (and Robert Sarver) over the Lakers, Vogel’s phone rang.

There’s a chance he comes out of this OK. He’s not the first Lakers coach to be assumed D.O.A., and he’s certainly not the first LeBron coach to be that way, either. That might create the perfect storm for Vogel in which he survives this mess and actually comes out ahead.

Lost in the drama is the fact Vogel is legitimately good at his job. You need to be more than that in the NBA, though, especially in large markets. Especially in L.A., with this towering inferno power structure the Lakers are currently dealing with. Nothing Vogel has done in his career fills anyone with much confidence that he’ll be able to do that.

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