Completely Unsubstantiated Talk Around Juwan Howard and Lakers (no link worthy of sharing)

Submitted by MaizeBlueA2 on April 10th, 2022 at 1:16 AM

I tried to be as clear as possible in the subject, so don't click and then get mad. You knew what this was...

I'm not including any links, because I personally don't see anything from anything close to a major news outlet (except maybe Bleacher Report), but Google "Juwan Howard Lakers" and you'll see the talk has begun.

Howard played with Pelinka and more importantly, he played with and coached LeBron. The connections are obvious for anyone looking to start a good rumor. Notice I said START a rumor, because I don't even think this has risen to "rumor."

THAT said, it's 2022 and there's a solid chance someone semi-credible is going to pick this up and Juwan will have to say something publicly. If nothing else, for recruiting purposes.

Juwan loves Michigan. He's said quietly that he's not going anywhere before his kids leave Michigan. So yes, it's the Lakers, LeBron, and Pelinka, but "This Is Michigan." My worry meter is, "0, but go find a shooter." However, I wouldn't be surprised if people mention his name enough that it becomes a quick "thing."

He also has to bring the Fab 5 together, which by all accounts, is very important to him.

Juwan has already coached LeBron and due to the Lakers roster situation, that job will be open again in 4 years - after, presumably, his kids are gone.  Bronny can come to Michigan if LeBron wants to be around Juwan. Otherwise, let's hold onto Dickinson and Diabate and find an All-B1G caliber guard to give the young ones another year to develop. 

GoBlueGoWings

April 10th, 2022 at 6:26 PM ^

I did run the Big House 5k this mourning and this parking spot at the Crisler Center was empty soooo....maybe

Sure, all the other spots were also empty except for KBA but still.

mackbru

April 11th, 2022 at 1:44 AM ^

Something tells me an aging team with aging stars won’t take its last shot with a first-time nba head coach. It’s this year or bust for LA, and frankly it’s probably already too late for them. Too old and creaky. Terrible contracts. 

goblu330

April 11th, 2022 at 5:24 AM ^

Am I like only one who is completely unoffended by this post?  Jace and Jett make it unlikely but the connections are there and he would probably get a really big contract and it is the Lakers.  OP didn’t say there was any credible info but this would be a good conversation piece even if there hadn’t been any chatter at all.

HChiti76

April 11th, 2022 at 10:00 AM ^

Funny. I got a text from a Spartan booster (he sometimes flies on the plane with hoops team), who is a friend and a good guy, with a link attached re: this rumor. I didn’t click on it and responded to him that it was just wishful thinking on the part of Spartans. 
 

I then checked this board to see if anything was posted re: this rumor and voila, here it is. I actually upvoted because I wanted the reassurance of mgoblog that this was the BS I suspected it was. Thanks!

Perkis-Size Me

April 11th, 2022 at 10:47 AM ^

I don't think it'll happen, but if they're serious and they interview him / offer him the job, he'd be nuts to not at least consider it. 

Michigan is a great college basketball job. Really is. But its nothing compared to coaching the Lakers. No college basketball job, not even Duke, is as high profile as the Lakers. The Lakers are a global brand, who have three of the highest profile players on the planet (LeBron, AD and Westbrook) playing for them. If he left to coach the Lakers, I wouldn't be angry or offended by it. Its the Lakers. Michigan can't compete with that. 

It's like if Bakich got a call from the Yankees asking them to come be their manager. You really going to not at least consider it? If you ultimately don't want the job that's okay, but you'd be crazy to not at least talk to them.