The Golden State Warriors have had discussions with former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham regarding a potential assistant coaching role.
Ham was fired by the Lakers with two years remaining on his contract and is now free to pursue other coaching opportunities.
The Warriors’ interest in Ham signals their desire to add a big-name assistant, possibly a former head coach or former player, to their coaching staff.
Ham signed a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers at $5 million per year. However, he was fired with two full years left on his contract. The Lakers will owe him the remaining $10 million of his contract.
Per Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the San Francisco team has initiated discussions with the coach to bring him on board as part of Steve Kerr’s coaching staff.
“It is a moment of doubt and somewhat troubled for the Golden State coaching staff. Several moves have weakened the group since last year, and they may not be over yet.” Slater said.
“The conversation has not progressed to the point of placing Ham as a favorite for the position or anything along those lines,”
“After all, Kenny Atkinson, Steve Kerr’s top assistant, is one of the favorites to take over as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2024/25,” he added.
Additionally, Slater discusses the intention to recruit a new assistant coach, which involved the franchise’s recent discussion with the former Lakers coach.
Nonetheless, negotiations between the parties have not advanced to a formal agreement.
The Warriors are considering significant changes to their coaching staff, and their discussions with Ham indicate their interest in adding an experienced coach to their ranks.
This aligns with their desire to potentially hire a big-name assistant coach, either a former head coach or former player.
