NBA rumors: Zion Williamson desired by dark horse, Lakers coaching future, and more
NBA Rumors: Phil Handy has no plan to leave Lakers’ coaching staff
When the Phoenix Suns hired Frank Vogel, there was speculation galore about the threat he posed to the Lakers’ coaching staff. Vogel has already lured multiple former Lakers assistants to the Phoenix bench, but don’t expect top assistant Phil Handy to follow suit.
When asked about whether he was considering a move to Phoenix, Handy shot down the rumors in unambiguous terms.
“Don’t believe everything you read.” 😂
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) June 19, 2023
That was Lakers assistant Phil Handy’s first response to rumors he might join Phoenix.
Then clarified his commitment to LA for two more seasons pic.twitter.com/K3OUFCAv7S
Handy signed a three-year extension with the Lakers upon Darvin Ham’s arrival last season. He’s committed to fulfilling the two years left on his deal, which should end speculation about his future with the franchise for the time being. That said, Handy is a perennial candidate for head coaching jobs, so the Lakers can’t entirely rule out the possibility of him departing further down the road.
The Lakers have reaped the benefits of Handy’s knack for player development over the years. The most recent examples of Handy’s prodigious teaching ability are Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, who were essentially the Lakers’ third and fourth-best players in the postseason.
Skill development is crucial for any franchise, even teams geared toward immediate contention like the Lakers. And, with the new CBA set to make draft picks and player development more valuable than ever, fans should be thrilled about Handy’s status with the team.