Lakers interviewed coach Terry Stotts

The Los Angeles Lakers interviewed former Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts for the franchise’s coaching job on Friday, sources told ESPN.

Stotts joins the Lakers’ search process as a candidate with a history of playoff consistency, offensive creativity and an ability to build relationships with their star players. Prior to his firing in 2021, Stotts had made the Western Conference playoffs in his last eight straight seasons on the job, including two trips to the conference semifinals and a berth in the conference finals in 2019.

So far, the Lakers’ search process has been methodical. The organization has been interviewing coaches in waves one or two at a time, sources said, avoiding the traditional format of interviewing numerous candidates before narrowing down the list for follow-up interviews.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka is the point man in the search, but there is a committee to vet the candidates. Beyond owner Jeanie Buss and Pelinka, adviser Kurt Rambis and former Lakers coach Phil Jackson are a major part of the talks, the sources said.

The Lakers have also reached out to Milwaukee assistant Darvin Ham and Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin to discuss the position, sources said.

After missing the playoffs with a 33-49 record, the Lakers fired Frank Vogel in April.

Stotts left Portland as the second-winningest coach in franchise history, including a 402-318 record in his nine seasons as coach of the Blazers. He had brief stops with Atlanta (2003 and 2004) and Milwaukee (2006 and 2007) where he spent four seasons under .500.