The Los Angeles Lakers may be in win-now mode, but they’re also in position to develop young players with an eye on the future.
They have gotten considerably younger over the last several months, as they have jettisoned multiple players in their 30s in trades that have netted them Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba, all of whom are 27 or younger.
This is where Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy comes in very, well, handy. Hachimura has credited Handy with helping him feel comfortable with the Lakers and refine certain aspects of his game.
When former Lakers head coach Frank Vogel was hired by the Phoenix Suns recently, there was speculation that Handy may leave to join him there. But Handy revealed that he is actually under contract with L.A. for two more seasons and that he is staying with the Purple and Gold (h/t Lakers Nation).
Handy is considered perhaps the best player development coach in the NBA, and as such, he is considered a very important part of Darvin Ham’s staff.
Story originally appeared on LeBron Wire
