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Memphis Grizzlies: Nick Van Exel Should Be Considered By the Lakers

By Christian Dudley

BIRMINGHAM, AL - OCTOBER 2: Nick Van Exel and Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies look on during a team shootaround on October 2, 2018 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, AL - OCTOBER 2: Nick Van Exel and Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies look on during a team shootaround on October 2, 2018 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Nick Van Exel played an important role in player development for the Memphis Grizzlies. It would only be right for him to land with the Los Angeles Lakers next.

As the Memphis Grizzlies restructured their Front Office by season’s end, in addition to removing J.B. Bickerstaff from his head coaching duties, it was no surprise that the team would be welcoming an entirely new coaching staff from top to bottom. However, as most of the 2018-19 staff members have moved on to greener pastures, Nick Van Exel has remained as the odd man out.

It is crazy really. Even with the Memphis Grizzlies missing the postseason in both of the past two seasons, Nick Van Exel has been a bright spot for the franchise. It is evident during games, shooting sessions, and practices — not just behind the scenes. Much like his former co-worker, Jerry Stackhouse, players today form a special bond with those that were once in their shoes. After all, some of today’s players were idolizing guys like Van Exel and Stackhouse in the 1990s.

Nick Van Exel is on the open market, waiting for his next coaching opportunity, whether it is in the form of a head coach or assistant coach, along with which league it is in — the NBA or NCAA. Once June 1st hit, it became evident that Van Exel’s contract was not renewed by the Grizzlies. Now he waits, but only after he demonstrated his class and professionalism by thanking the city of Memphis for the warm welcome and hospitality for the past three seasons.

https://twitter.com/vanexel31/status/1134091765621972992?s=21

Given the criteria of the seven candidates for the Memphis Grizzlies’ current head coach vacancy, Nick Van Exel should have been placed into the pool, too. He had a leg up on the competition because he has been in Memphis for a few seasons developing guys like Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ivan Rabb, Jevon Carter, and others.

Promoting Van Exel would not have been a bad idea, especially considering the next hire will likely be someone with zero NBA head coaching experience anyway. Plus, they will not have the familiarity in which Nick had already established with the Grizzlies’ young players.

light. Related Story. Lionel Hollins Joins L.A. Lakers, Ends Possibility of Reunion with Memphis Grizzlies

What will be Nick Van Exel’s next move? For starters, he reached out to the University of Cincinnati to be the Bearcats’ next men’s basketball head coach. It would make since being as he is one of the best — if not the best — Bearcats to go on to carve a professional career in the NBA. Still, it appears that there has not been any movement on that front in favor of Van Exel, but it could be a blessing in disguise. It would potentially keep him on the NBA trek down the coaching path.

Though the Memphis Grizzlies are the only NBA team currently without a head coach in place, there are a handful of other opportunities to join a different coaching staff in the assistant coach role. For instance, Nick Van Exel turned down a chance to join David Fizdale, Keith Smart, and the New York Knicks one year ago. Something that would make more sense, though, would be a reunion with the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Nick Van Exel was a Lakers star for five seasons. That is where his NBA journey began after being drafted 37th overall in the 1993 NBA Draft. Now that he is retired, it would be something special for him and the L.A. Lakers fan base if a return to the organization was made.

Now would be perfect time for Van Exel to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers since they just hired Frank Vogel as their next head coach and their coaching staff is not yet fully assembled. Below Vogel is Jason Kidd, another 1990s NBA legend much like “Nick the Quick” himself.

This three-man group on the Lakers’ staff would own a lot of combined experienced at the head coaching role in the NBA as well as a lot of playing experience. As previously mentioned, it is a huge boost when those in NBA coaching roles today can utilize their former playing careers to connect with and develop today’s future hoops stars.

The current L.A. Lakers group is littered with youthful stars — some of the best young players in the league, as NBA Twitter will commonly tell you. Their franchise needs some guidance (to say the least), and Nick Van Exel could be a perfect complement on the sidelines.

Next. NBA Trade Rumors: Phoenix Suns Should Reconsider Memphis Grizzlies' Mike Conley. dark

Reuniting with the Lakers would be far greater — sans the head coach title — than a Cincy Bearcats head coaching role. It is unfortunate to see Van Exel depart the Memphis Grizzlies’ organization, but it is certainly not due to a lack of positive impact.

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