Report: Juwan Howard a candidate to coach Lakers if Walton fired
Miami Heat assistant Juwan Howard would be a candidate to become head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers if Luke Walton is fired, sources told the New York Times' Marc Stein. However, Stein added that Howard would not be considered a front-runner.
Howard's name suddenly emerged in the discussion when BetOnline listed him this week as a 4-1 favorite to coach the Lakers next season - ahead of Walton and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue. Meanwhile, rumors continue to swirl around the job security of Walton, who will miss the playoffs for the third time in three seasons as L.A.'s head coach.
Like Lue, Howard has a history with Lakers star LeBron James. After retiring as a teammate in 2013, Howard began serving as a Heat assistant coach during James' final season with the franchise.
As a player, Howard was a member of Michigan's famed Fab Five in the early 1990s before spending 19 years in the NBA.
He reportedly interviewed for the Detroit Pistons' head coaching vacancy last year.