The Los Angeles Lakers and head coach Luke Walton have 'mutually agreed' to part ways

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The Los Angeles Lakers and head coach Luke Walton have "mutually agreed" to part ways, per the team's official release.


This doesn't come as much of a surprise as the writing was on the wall when the Lakers' season took a turn for the worse, failing to make the playoffs in the first year of LeBron James' new contract.

The Lakers finished 10th in the Western Conference with a record of 37-45, more than 10 wins short of what they were projected for in the beginning of the season.

"We would like to thank Luke for his dedicated service over the last three years," said Lakers' General Manager Rob Pelinka in the official release. "We wish Luke and his family the best of luck moving forward."

"I want to thank Jeanie Buss and the Buss family for giving me the opportunity to coach the Lakers," said former head coach Luke Walton. "This franchise and the city will always be special to me and my family."

Per Sam Amick of The Athletic, Kings' GM Vlade Divac is expected to reach out to Walton to schedule an interview for Sacramento's head coaching vacancy.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Tyronn Lue's name is at the head of the list to fill the Lakers' coaching vacancy. He also mentioned that Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Monty Williams is another candidate for the position, with the process "expected to be centered on (Lue and Williams)."


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Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.