Frank Vogel is headed back to the bench. And not just any bench — the one in the Bay Area.
ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news Sunday that Vogel has agreed to become associate head coach for the Golden State Warriors under Steve Kerr. It’s a move that feels less like a routine coaching hire and more like kindling for the perpetual fire that is LeBron James trade speculation.
Think about it. Vogel was the last coach to win a championship with LeBron. That happened in the Orlando bubble during 2020, when the Lakers took down the Miami Heat inside the strangest setting the NBA has ever seen. Vogel and James didn’t exactly part on bad terms either. The Lakers let Vogel go after a disappointing 2021-22 season, but the respect between them was always there.
The Vogel Connection Is Real
Vogel’s addition isn’t just some random assistant hire. This is a guy who spent years designing defensive schemes against the Warriors as an opponent. He knows what makes Golden State tick from the outside. Now he’s on the inside.
He spent last season with the Dallas Mavericks alongside Jason Kidd. But when the Mavs brought in Dusty May to lead the staff, Vogel wasn’t brought back. So the Warriors grabbed a veteran coach with championship pedigree and a direct line to the biggest name in the rumor mill.
It’s not hard to see why people are connecting dots.
Summer League Hype and Veteran Recruitment
Meanwhile out in Summer League, the Warriors have a rookie named Yaxel Lendeborg turning heads. He’s reportedly been making his own pitch to LeBron through the media, trying to sell the idea of joining forces in Golden State. That’s bold for a guy who hasn’t played a regular season game yet. But the Warriors have always been a confident bunch.
Draymond Green has been even more direct. He’s said publicly that he’s doing everything in his power to recruit James. Those three — Green, Steph Curry and LeBron — have a friendship that goes back years. They’ve played on All-Star teams together, they’ve competed in the Olympics together, and they’ve spent more time publicly praising each other than most rivalries would allow.
So the groundwork is there.
But here’s the thing nobody’s saying loud enough: the Miami Heat are still lurking. After landing Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade with Milwaukee, the Heat have become a legitimate threat for any big-name player looking for a new home. If LeBron wants another ring, Miami has the infrastructure. Pat Riley doesn’t exactly lose bidding wars often.
For now though, the Warriors just added a coach who knows how to win with James. Whether that’s just a smart hire or the first piece of something bigger — we’ll find out when free agency really starts heating up.
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