Lakers News: Frank Vogel Lands Prestigious New Head Coaching Job
Frank Vogel, most recently the head coach of your Los Angeles Lakers from 2019-22, has a new job.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the star-studded Phoenix Suns are putting the finishing touches on a new, long-term contract for Vogel. Charania reports that Vogel is set to sign a five-year, $31 million deal.
Upon being hired by the Lakers to coach All-Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis in 2019, Vogel instantly led LA to the franchise's 17th title in 2020. An injury to Davis hurt the club's playoff chances in 2021, and LA was eliminated in the first round by the Suns. The 2022 team missed the postseason entirely, but that was more than the fault of roster construction than any coaching gaffe.
The Suns are fairly top-heavy, with perennial All-Stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant now leading the way. Future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul, 38, has a merely partially-guaranteed contract for next season, and it's possible that Phoenix lets the oft-injured vet go this summer. Center Deandre Ayton will earn $32.4 million next season and has underperformed in two straight postseasons now, so his future is also up in the air.
Known as a defensive specialist, Vogel led several highly competitive Indiana Pacers clubs from 2011-16. Though Indiana, piloted by All-Stars Paul George and Roy Hibbert, plus savvy vets David West and George Hill, never made the Finals, they squared off against eventual Vogel disciple LeBron James' Miami Heat in consecutive Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014. He then captained some ill-fated Orlando Magic teams from 2016-18, but redeemed himself with his Lakers performance.
Sporting a career regular season record of 433-378 (127-98 with Los Angeles), but a championship and several deep playoff runs to his name, Vogel was considered one of the top remaining head coaching prospects left on the market.
Now only one head coaching vacancy -- the Toronto Raptors gig -- remains on the table
Vogel will replace 2022 Coach of the Year Monty Williams, who led the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals during his tenure with the club, which ended after Phoenix was ousted in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games by the Denver Nuggets. Williams inked the priciest deal for a head coach in history, a six-year, $78.5 million contract with the Detroit Pistons, last week.
The 2022-23 Suns under Williams finished with a 45-37 record and the West's fourth seed, including a 15-10 record after trading depth for Durant on February 9th.
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