Lakers Rumors: Players Embarrassed by LA's Dysfunction Ahead of Free Agency

The Los Angeles Lakers' 2018-19 season ended April 10, but the circus surrounding the organization is in full swing. 

On Friday, capping off a week that saw Tyronn Lue withdraw himself from negotiations to become the Lakers' next head coach, Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes relayed that Lakers players have told him they're embarrassed by how the franchise's coaching search has transpired thus far. 

"Lakerland is in crisis right now," Haynes added, before clarifying that the organization as a whole is losing credibility and not just president Jeanie Buss.

The Lakers and third-year head coach Luke Walton agreed to part ways April 12 after he led the team to an underwhelming 37-45 record.

Also in April, Magic Johnson called an impromptu press conference and announced he was stepping down as the Lakers' president of basketball operations without telling anybody first—not even Buss.

Immediately following Walton's departure, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Lue was a "strong frontrunner" to be hired as Lakers head coach. Talks broke down between the team and Lue on Tuesday when he was insulted by the Lakers' three-year offer, which was an effort by the team to tie Lue to LeBron James' contract.

Los Angeles also lost out on Monty Williams, who agreed to become the Phoenix Suns' new head coach on Monday. According to Wojnarowski (h/t Evan Sidery of SB Nation), the Lakers favored Williams to Lue: "While LeBron, I do know he would prefer (Lue) as head coach, I know this: He didn't tell the Lakers, 'You have to do it.' Because they were ready to move toward Monty Williams, and I think the Lakers never really took seriously the possibility he was going to take that Suns job, and he did, and I know it surprised them."

While several unnamed players seem to have voiced their displeasure to Haynes, point guard Rajon Rondo pointedly stated, according to ESPN's NBA Countdown Thursday, that if L.A. doesn't have a coach by free agency, he likely won't come back. 

Prior to the Lakers' sour 2018-19, the expectation around the NBA was for L.A. to be a prime free-agency destination this summer with James on the roster and the likes of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson set to hit the market.

The Los Angeles Times' Broderick Turner reported Friday that the Lakers have interviewed J.B. Bickerstaff, who served as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies from 2016 to this season. The franchise also interviewed Frank Vogel Thursday, known for coaching the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic, per Turner.