The Los Angeles Lakers have been granted permission to discuss the franchise's head-coach opening with Philadelphia 76ers assistant Monty Williams, league sources told ESPN.
Williams and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue are the focus of the Lakers' search, and general manager Rob Pelinka is planning to speak individually with each soon, league sources said.
The expectation is that Pelinka likely will speak to Williams on the phone or travel east to meet with him because the 76ers' first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets just started, league sources said.
Williams returned to coaching this season as Brett Brown's top assistant. He spent the previous two years in the San Antonio Spurs' front office following the death of his wife, Ingrid, in early 2016.
Williams left the Oklahoma City Thunder as associate head coach in the aftermath of his wife's death. He and his children relocated to San Antonio, where Williams had extended family.
Before his time with the Thunder, Williams coached the New Orleans Pelicans for five seasons. He reached the playoffs in his first season (2010-11) and his last (2014-15).
He won a gold medal as part of Mike Krzyzewski's USA Basketball coaching staff at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 and has a history with Lakers star LeBron James.
