Since the Los Angeles Lakers chose to part ways with head coach Frank Vogel, the front office has progressively worked toward finding a replacement.
However, Los Angeles hasn't moved to fill the vacancy despite holding one of the only open positions. Longtime NBA reporter Ramona Shelburne has recently provided more clarity to the situation.
Vogel's departure opens an opportunity for the Lakers to head in a new direction.
The early sense is the team's desire to hire a candidate with previous head coach experience. Los Angeles recently spoke to former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts and former Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson.
Despite the interviewing process moving along, the franchise doesn't appear to be pushing toward its next hire anytime soon.
The Lakers are in the thick of their head coach search, but the process doesn't appear to be close to a decision.
During an interview on The Rich Eisen Show on Monday, Shelburne voiced that the franchise is in no hurry to hire its next head coach.
"They are taking their sweet time," Shelburne said. "I don't know if they know what they are looking for, to be honest. They are surveying the field and talking to a bunch of people. Some of them are assistants. Some of them are guys who have been coaches before."
"They are doing zoom [interviews] and don't seem to have any sense of urgency about this...I don't think they are in any hurry. I think some of that is waiting to see what else happens in the playoffs and might be available in the NBA."
The lack of urgency likely comes from the team wanting to potentially interview a coach that could become available after the playoffs. The name that sits at the top of the list is Doc Rivers, as various reports have indicated Los Angeles may hold significant interest.
The Lakers' lack of movement toward a new head coach hire signals that the front office has other possible candidates.
Snyder and Rivers have been linked as the most prominent names, but neither has spoken to the team yet. The former still holds a murky future with the Utah Jazz, which should be resolved in the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, Rivers is still coaching in the playoffs, as the Philadelphia 76ers are tied 2-2 in their second-round playoff series against the Miami Heat. If the 76ers fall short of an NBA title, expect the Lakers to make a strong push to talk to the former NBA Coach of the Year.
Beyond the Lakers needing to find their next head coach, the front office has much work ahead when it comes to the roster construction.
LeBron James remains the central piece alongside Anthony Davis, but the rest of the team is uncertain. Los Angeles will work to move Russell Westbrook while attempting to put the appropriate roster around James and Davis to push the franchise back into NBA title contention.
In other words, much change lies ahead in Los Angeles.
