The Tribune

By Inigo 'Naughty' Zenicazelaya

NOW that ‘Game of Thrones’ has concluded, I find my ‘Westeros’ fix in the form of my dysfunctional Lakers and their ‘brainless trust.’

What will this circus do next?

How about a new head coach!

NEW COACH

IN LA LA LAND

Former Pacer and Magic head coach Frank Vogel takes over a team that has been in disarray on and off the court.

The Lakers have missed the playoffs for six straight seasons, a drought that was expected to end in LeBron James’ first season.

However, injuries to James, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, as well as dysfunction in the locker room, resulted in a lacklustre 37-45 record.

Vogel will be the Lakers’ sixth coach since Phil Jackson stepped down after the 2010-11 season.

The 45-year old Vogel worked for the organisation before as an advance scout during the 2005-06 season.

Vogel went to Orlando following five-plus seasons leading the Indiana Pacers, including trips to the Eastern Conference finals in 2013 and ‘14.

He has a career record of 304-291.

Vogel confirmed Jason Kidd will join his staff as an assistant and said it was something Pelinka brought up during the job interview.

(Red flag here. Who’s really calling the coaching shots, Vogel or Pelinka?)

KEEP THE

FOURTH PICK

If the Lakers decide to keep the pick, there are a number of intriguing potential players who they could choose to select.

Vanderbilt PG Darius Garland may already be the Lakers’ choice.

According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Garland received a draft promise from either the Lakers or the Phoenix Suns, and left the NBA Draft combine.

Garland is an excellent shooter and ball-handler but isn’t a big guard or the best athlete so there are questions about his defence.

PG Ball has shown that he isn’t someone who needs the ball in his hands and is excellent defensively so it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that the two could play together.

Garland is one of many Lakers options with the fourth selection.

He arguably has the highest ceiling of anyone outside of the top-three, but also comes with a ton of questions due to his lack of experience.

But if there is one place the Lakers have excelled through all the dysfunction, it’s their scouting department and ability to draft.

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1.