The Los Angeles Lakers have scheduled an interview with former Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff for the team's head coaching job, the Los Angeles Timesreported on Friday. Bickerstaff, 40, was fired by the Grizzlies on April 11 after going 33–49 on the season. Bickerstaff joined the Grizzlies as an associate coach before going 15–48 as the team's interim head coach in 2017 after the team fired David Fizdale. Before his time in Memphis, Bickerstaff coached on an interim basis in Houston during the 2015-16 season and replaced Kevin McHale 11 games into the season and helping the Rockets into the playoffs. The meeting comes after contract negotiations between the Lakers and Tyronn Lue came to an end on Wednesday. It was reported that Lue was seeking a five-year deal and declined a three-year, $18 million deal. Lue recently served as head coach of the Cavaliers, who fired him following an 0–6 start at the beginning of the 2018-19 season. Los Angeles interviewed former Magic coach Frank Vogel on Thursday. The Lakers have been searching for a new head coach since firing Walton at the end of the 2018-19 regular season. Walton led the Lakers to a 37–45 record this season, missing the playoffs for the sixth-straight year.<doc-sep>Head Coach Frank Vogel of the Orlando Magic during the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 24, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Fernando Medina, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a deal with Frank Vogel to become their next head coach, ESPN reported Saturday. Vogel will have a three-year contract, and his staff will feature Jason Kidd in a prominent role as an assistant, according to ESPN. The Lakers were forced to reset their coaching search after Tyronn Lue turned down the opportunity to be Luke Walton's replacement. Lue reportedly had the chance to run the team but considered the Lakers' three-year, $18 million offer a snub after discussing a five-year contract. Vogel, 45, was head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 2010-16. He also coached the Orlando Magic from 2016-18, and has a career record of 304-291. The Pacers made five playoff appearances during his tenure. Vogel reportedly made a strong impression during a meeting with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka on Thursday and was on the short list to replace Derek Fisher in Los Angeles in 2016 before the job went to Walton. Kidd and Juwan Howard also interviewed for the job originally -- as did Monty Williams, who was named head coach of the Phoenix Suns. Others to visit with the team last week, according to various reports: Vogel, Lionel Hollins, Mike Woodson and former Memphis Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski wrote last week that the Lakers originally were hoping to add Kidd, a former All-Star point guard and ex-head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets, to a Lue staff. Wojnarowski tweeted that Kidd "made a strong impression with management in his head coaching interview and had a productive history w/ Bucks developing young talent." For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.<doc-sep>Tyronn Lue, come on down. With one of the Lakers’ top candidates taken off the market — Monty Williams is finalizing a deal to become the Suns’ next head coach, ESPN reported — Lue appears to have the inside track to reunite with LeBron James in Los Angeles, according to the network. An offer for Lue is expected in the coming days and there are no plans to add another candidate. The only other known candidate beside Lue and Williams was Heat assistant Juwan Howard. The Lakers have yet to offer the job to Lue, per ESPN, but with Williams landing in Phoenix, Lue inched closer to returning to the sidelines after getting fired after an 0-6 start with the Cavaliers this season. He would replace Luke Walton, who has since taken the Kings job after a disappointing 37-45 season in which James and the Lakers missed the playoffs. Lue took over for David Blatt midseason in 2016, guiding James and the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship that June. They reached the NBA finals the next two years, but lost to the Warriors both times, before James took off for Los Angeles. Williams, currently an assistant coach for the 76ers, went 173-221 in five seasons with New Orleans from 2010-15 before being fired. He replaces Igor Kokoskov, who went 19-63 in his only season as the Suns head coach.<doc-sep>
FILE PHOTO: Apr 9, 2019; Detroit, MI, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach J.B. Bickerstaff yells from the sidelines during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports The Los Angeles Lakers were expected to interview J.B. Bickerstaff on Friday for their vacant head coach position, the Los Angeles Times reported. The former Memphis Grizzlies head coach is the second candidate to be interviewed by the Lakers in two days after the team met with former Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic coach Frank Vogel on Thursday. The Lakers were reportedly set to hire Tyronn Lue as their next head coach before negotiations on a deal broke down. Lue was the head coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers the last time Lakers forward LeBron James won an NBA title. Bickerstaff’s Grizzlies were 48-97 in just under two full seasons. He took over for David Fizdale after 19 games last season but was unable to guide Memphis into the playoffs. The Grizzlies started out strong this past season but faced quickly and team cornerstone Marc Gasol was moved to the Toronto Raptors at February’s trade deadline. Bickerstaff, 40, was fired in April. The Lakers are looking to replace former head coach Luke Walton, who was fired after compiling 98-148 record with the Lakers in three seasons. Los Angeles was 37-45 this past season, James’ first with the team. The Lakers have not made the playoffs since 2013 when they lost in the first round to the San Antonio Spurs. --Field Level Media