My list, in no particular order, goes like this:
Luuuuuke - Pros: He's only 36 and is considered one of the top up and coming young coaches in the game. He also has learned from some of the best. Phil started grooming him to be a coach when he was still a player with the Lakers and he's been learning under Kerr. He has championship experience as both a player and coach. Considering how young he is and assuming he brings a version of GSW's system, he should make the Lakers attractive to top young FA's. He would be taking over a very young roster and he and the team should be able to learn and grow together.
Cons: He's only 36 and the Lakers run the risk that he may not be ready for prime time.
JVG - Pros: He's a great defensive coach and the Lakers were an abortion on defense this season. We would likely see a big defensive improvement which would lead to a lot more wins. He has a lot of experience, so there really isn't anything that's going to surprise him. He also has a history of getting the most out of his players. He was born in the city that I currently live in. lol
Cons: He hasn't been on the sidelines in a long time, so there's always the chance that he won't be as effective reaching players as he used to be. He's only been able to get a team to the finals once.
Mark Jackson - Pros: Also a defensive minded coach who should also be able to bring about a big improvement on defensive end of the floor. Seems like the players liked playing for him. He turned GSW around. We'll never know if he would have been able to do what Kerr has done because he was gone too soon.
Cons: He is very rigid when it comes to offense and GSW fans all seem to feel that is why he wouldn't have had the success Kerr has had. He could be a Del Harris type coach who is good at getting teams turned around, but not good enough to lead them to a title. He also pissed off and alienated the GSW front office.
Kevin Ollie - Pros: Another bright young coach who many think will be a great coach one day and who should be able to reach young players. Kevin Durant considers him a mentor, so it would likely mean that KD would give very serious consideration to joining the Lakers if they hired him.
Cons: Probably the least ready of the potential candidates to be a head coach in the NBA. He would be a great assistant coach hire by whoever the Lakers do pick.
Ettore Messina - Pros: He's very well respected and is a Popovich protege' which likely means we would see a much more disciplined team than we saw this past season. He knows the game inside out and apparently knows how to teach and get through to players. All things considered, he might provide the best combination of being ready for an HC position and getting through to young players of all of the candidates.
Cons: He's not a "sexy" or "big name" type hire. He's well respected, but not well known, so it's hard to say how attractive he might be to top FA's.
Personally, Luke would be my first choice, but Messina might be the better, more inspired hire. Either way, I don't think the Lakers can really go wrong with hiring any of these guys.
Luuuuuke - Pros: He's only 36 and is considered one of the top up and coming young coaches in the game. He also has learned from some of the best. Phil started grooming him to be a coach when he was still a player with the Lakers and he's been learning under Kerr. He has championship experience as both a player and coach. Considering how young he is and assuming he brings a version of GSW's system, he should make the Lakers attractive to top young FA's. He would be taking over a very young roster and he and the team should be able to learn and grow together.
Cons: He's only 36 and the Lakers run the risk that he may not be ready for prime time.
JVG - Pros: He's a great defensive coach and the Lakers were an abortion on defense this season. We would likely see a big defensive improvement which would lead to a lot more wins. He has a lot of experience, so there really isn't anything that's going to surprise him. He also has a history of getting the most out of his players. He was born in the city that I currently live in. lol
Cons: He hasn't been on the sidelines in a long time, so there's always the chance that he won't be as effective reaching players as he used to be. He's only been able to get a team to the finals once.
Mark Jackson - Pros: Also a defensive minded coach who should also be able to bring about a big improvement on defensive end of the floor. Seems like the players liked playing for him. He turned GSW around. We'll never know if he would have been able to do what Kerr has done because he was gone too soon.
Cons: He is very rigid when it comes to offense and GSW fans all seem to feel that is why he wouldn't have had the success Kerr has had. He could be a Del Harris type coach who is good at getting teams turned around, but not good enough to lead them to a title. He also pissed off and alienated the GSW front office.
Kevin Ollie - Pros: Another bright young coach who many think will be a great coach one day and who should be able to reach young players. Kevin Durant considers him a mentor, so it would likely mean that KD would give very serious consideration to joining the Lakers if they hired him.
Cons: Probably the least ready of the potential candidates to be a head coach in the NBA. He would be a great assistant coach hire by whoever the Lakers do pick.
Ettore Messina - Pros: He's very well respected and is a Popovich protege' which likely means we would see a much more disciplined team than we saw this past season. He knows the game inside out and apparently knows how to teach and get through to players. All things considered, he might provide the best combination of being ready for an HC position and getting through to young players of all of the candidates.
Cons: He's not a "sexy" or "big name" type hire. He's well respected, but not well known, so it's hard to say how attractive he might be to top FA's.
Personally, Luke would be my first choice, but Messina might be the better, more inspired hire. Either way, I don't think the Lakers can really go wrong with hiring any of these guys.