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Phil Handy is a valued member of the Lakers’ assistant coaching staff, and it would be a big loss if he left for Steve Nash and the Nets
For the second time in just over two weeks, Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy is linked with the Brooklyn Nets, where new head coach Steve Nash is trying to round out his squad
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Nash wanted Handy for his bench, and now SNY’s Ian Begley adds that the organization wants the Lakers assistant as well:
Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy is also seen as a candidate for Nash staff by some people at the Nets organization, SNY sources confirm
Handy is close to Kyrie Irving The Athletic first reported that Handy was one of the assistant coaches on Brooklyn’s radar
Handy’s ties to Irving are well known, but he is also connected to Nash, working with him with the Lakers during Nash’s first season in Los Angeles and Handy’s second in the NBA Although Nash didn’t wasn’t able to step onto the pitch as much as anyone would have liked that year, it looks like Handy’s approach impressed him (as it has pretty much everywhere he’s gone)
At the time of the initial report on Nets interest, Frank Vogel said the Lakers allow assistant coaches to confer elsewhere on a case-by-case basis
« If any of our assistants have the opportunity to get an opportunity for advancement, we usually grant permission But that would be on a case by case basis, and I don’t know anything about the situation you mentioned Vogel said a few weeks ago when asked about the Nets’ stated interest in Handy. He also made it clear that the Lakers value the veteran assistant
« Phil Handy brings a lot of experience to our team He has been in the final for the past five years, and obviously has a lot of experience and experience working with LeBron, does a great job with our whole group in development of players and has been integral to our success this year »
Handy has now made it six in a row after the Lakers have qualified this year, and while that success obviously isn’t just down to an assistant coach, it’s representative of the types of valuable winning organizations placed on Handy’s contributions, and that he has at least been able to help and contribute to high caliber teams under Tyronn Lue, Nick Nurse and now Vogel
He also clearly has a knack for connecting with star players, from Kobe Bryant to LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Irving, among others It’s because Handy has shown he has a talent for helping young players. and confirmed to add new components to their games at every step of his basketball journey, paying his own way on road trips to help Danny Green as he tried to rehabilitate his G League career working with him on the Raptors and Lakers as they head to the NBA Finals
Can’t even find words to describe this #journey for me personally # 6straight @nba #finals doesn’t even seem real @lakers far from over but trust me I’m going to be celebrating #lakernation #lakers tonight #lakeshow it’s been a long time #ringchasing picTwittercom / 2REDCkDqqe
Considering how clearly Vogel appreciates his contributions, it’s hard to imagine the Lakers letting Handy escape unless he really wants to leave.It’s also not clear where on the bench of the Nets would be the type of advancement – Handy is already a bench coach with the Lakers after years as a player development assistant behind the bench – that the Lakers would allow him to leave for, although the organization may differ if it’s a place Handy prefers
Still, if it’s all about the money, it’s hard to think the Lakers wouldn’t just pay to keep Handy, but we’ll see After the Finals, fixing that will be one of the first issues the Lakers will immediately face
For more chats with the Lakers, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Podcasts You can follow Harrison on Twitter at @hmfaigen
Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Toronto Raptors
World news – United States – Nets would like to add Lakers assistant Phil Handy to staff coaches from Steve Nash