Will Darvin Ham and LeBron James be back with the Lakers next season?
With the Lakers' season over, the two biggest offseason questions involve the head coach and its biggest star.
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The Lakers were eliminated from playoff contention after losing to the Nuggets in Game 5. However basketball never stops in Los Angeles, so now the focus will turn to the big offseason decisions the Lakers have to make.
This week's NBA Reacts survey focuses on the two biggest questions that need to be answered this summer: should Darvin Ham be fired and will LeBron James be a Laker next season?
According to reports, Ham’s job is in “serious peril,” and it’s not a foregone conclusion he will be back to coach this team next season.
The Lakers have a 90-74 record under Ham's direction and highlights include a Western Conference Finals appearance and the NBA In-Season Tournament title. He also dealt well with the tensions of coaching through the Russell Westbrook era and put the Lakers back in the right direction.
The negatives have been much clearer this year, with Taurean Prince being in the starting lineup too long, D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves being benched during the season and an overall struggle to maximize the team's continuity with better rotations and adjustments.
It sounds like players in the locker room are becoming increasingly frustrated with Ham and that alone might be reason enough to fire the Lakers coach.
Darvin Ham has two years left on his four-year deal, so they'd have to pay him and another coach, which would also mean a new head coaching search. What candidates would even make sense for the Lakers to pursue and would they be better than Ham?
All tough decisions co-owner of the Lakers Jeanie Buss and vice president of basketball operation Rob Pelinka will have to weigh when deciding on Ham's job.
The biggest question mark for the Lakers regarding player personnel starts with LeBron James.
James has a player option, but reports indicate he will likely opt out and aim for a longer-term deal. The good news for Lakers fans who want the King to remain in L.A. is him re-signing is the "most likely scenario."
Still, if Bron opts out, for a moment, he will be a free agent able to talk to any team and certainly, organizations will try to convince him to sign elsewhere.
We already know the Warriors had an interest in trading for LeBron during the trade deadline, so another conversation with the team from Northern California is possible.
With the Lakers having another disappointing playoff exit, a coach on the hot seat, and a path towards a title looking harder and harder to get to, Bron returning is probable once he opts out but leaving the Lakers for greener pastures is possible.
So, don't expect a drama-less summer here in Hollywood until all this gets settled.
But enough about my thoughts, what do you think? Should Darvin Ham be fired? Will LeBron James be a Laker next season? Vote and share your thoughts down below!
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.