The only question was when he would get fired, not if. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Lakers could go with the NFL-style “ax the coach the day after the season ends” move.

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[{"selector":"#anim-7ee46a71-bced-4e7f-a6ac-8351c32af63c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(8.490565969221311%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d66957f-d953-44ae-a993-b0d7ae794b35","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00aa2e53-3c6a-4844-9544-6b02802858aa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Lakers’ search for his replacement is expected to be expansive and lengthy — without a clear-cut front-runner, sources said.

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The Lakers handed their defensive coach a roster of players that couldn’t defend. Vogel’s rotations didn’t help matters at times

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he seemed to be throwing everything he could against the wall to see what would stick. He seemed to lose the locker room.

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The question for the Lakers heading into their next coaching search is what are they willing to offer a coach?

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Reportedly offering in the three years, $18 million range (a championship coach of Lue’s stature would traditionally draw a five-year contract in the $35-$40 million range).

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[{"selector":"#anim-dc5f99a3-14d5-4a0a-8531-b8928f05a00f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(7.50600174411737%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20662595-3c98-4ab3-9bc9-307feaa6df79","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-763c7599-9a95-4fee-8b29-59ebd4aad317","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Or are the Lakers still going to treat the coach as an interchangeable piece? If so, they will get an interchangeable quality coach.