The Lakers hired Vogel, arriving under the shakiest circumstances. Vogel had been first contacted only to be an assistant. His introductory press conference was the one eclipsed by Magic Johnson’s latest TV broadside against Pelinka. Vogel was asked to take Jason Kidd, who had tried to promote himself as a head coaching candidate, as an assistant, a suggestion the new coach could hardly have resisted. Kidd has a well-known reputation for backstage intrigue. The Lakers are so sensitive to suggestions that he will undercut Vogel, they have told press people that Jason doesn’t want to do interviews, making him their first assistant who’s off-limits to the press.
