Lakers Rumors: Tyronn Lue Called Luke Walton, Hasn't Been Contacted About HC Job

Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue recently reached out to Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton to let him know that he has not been contacted by the organization in regard to the position as rumors swirl, according to The Athletic's Bill Oram.

Lue also reportedly told Walton that he would touch base with him out of "courtesy and friendship" if anything changes.

Walton's job has come into question as the Lakers will miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season despite signing four-time NBA MVP LeBron James in the offseason. With a 33-41 record, Walton has a career mark of 94-144 in nearly three seasons in L.A.

Los Angeles managed to stay in playoff contention for much of the season despite injuries to James, Rajon Rondo and Lonzo Ball, among others. However, a 5-12 performance since the All-Star break has led to the team officially being eliminated.

While there is growing speculation that a coaching change will be made at the conclusion of the season, Walton plans on sticking around for the final year of his contract.

"I fully expect to be coaching this team again next year," Walton told Oram on Tuesday.

For now, Walton is doing his best not to read too much into any reports. His only focus at this point is on coaching out the season.

"I just view it as outside noise unless someone from within tells me that that happened," Walton said, per Oram. "Unless someone from within our group is telling me that, I just view it like all the other things we've gone through as a team this year. Those are things that I don't have the time to worry about. I've got more important things to do like getting the team better and doing my job."

Walton has been under the microscope since nearly the start of the season. ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin reported Lakers president Magic Johnson "admonished" Walton amid a 3-5 start to the season.

Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reported last month that Walton would "definitely" finish out the season, as team owner Jeanie Buss wants to give the 38-year-old coach "every opportunity to succeed."

Lue, meanwhile, was fired by the Cavs following an 0-6 start to the season. With James leading the way, Lue was on the sidelines in Cleveland as the team reached the NBA Finals in each of the last three seasons, winning the franchise's first championship in 2016.