3 coaches the Lakers could hire to replace Frank Vogel

Frank Vogel replacements: Sam Cassell in an on-the-rise coach with a championship pedigree as a player

While Fizdale is a candidate of the retread variety, keep an eye on Sam Cassell being a potential first-time head-coaching candidate for this offseason. The former NBA champion as a player works for Doc Rivers as part of the Philadelphia 76ers staff. Not to say he is fully-equipped to take on a very challenging job in Los Angeles, but his championship pedigree may cut through.

It would be quite the entry point for Cassell as a first-time head coach, but after spending a decade on various benches across the league, he just might be ready for it. He has been with Rivers since coming aboard on the Los Angeles Clippers staff in 2014. Prior to that, he served on his former coach’s staff in the late, great Flip Saunders as part of his Washington Wizards teams.

Admittedly, this is not a job most first-time head coaches will be adequately prepared for. However, Cassell’s previous run with the other Los Angeles franchise will serve him coaching in this metropolis. While he may want to go to a less high-profile first big-time gig out of the gate, again, the upside of coaching the Lakers back to national relevance may be too good to pass up.

If the 76ers go on a run this postseason, it could parlay into him finally getting his own NBA team.