The Los Angeles Lakers have regrouped from Wednesday’s breakdown with head coaching candidate Tyronn Lue and plan to interview Frank Vogel for the position, ESPN confirmed.
Vogel was flying out to Los Angeles on Thursday for the interview, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Vogel, 45, last coached for the Orlando Magic, going 25-57 in 2017-18 before being fired. For his career in eight seasons with the Indiana Pacers and Orlando, his teams went 304-291 (.511) in the regular season and 31-30 (.508) in the playoffs. The Pacers reached the conference finals in back-to-back years under his watch in 2013 and 2014, falling both times to LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
Known for his defensive expertise, Vogel was discussed as a candidate to join Lue’s staff had Lue taken the job, league sources told ESPN.
He will become the fifth candidate to interview for the vacancy created by Luke Walton’s departure last month, joining Monty Williams, Juwan Howard, Jason Kidd and Lue.
The interview process is expected to include controlling owner Jeanie Buss, general manager Rob Pelinka, team advisor Kurt Rambis, director of special projects Linda Rambis and chief operating officer Tim Harris as well as Lakers co-owners Joey Buss (president of the Lakers’ G League affiliate) and Jesse Buss (the Lakers’ director of scouting).
Vogel worked as a scout for the Lakers in the 2005-06 season. He was a student manager at the University of Kentucky under Rick Pitino.
The Los Angeles Times first reported the Lakers’ scheduled interview with Vogel.