The Lakers meet the Williams of the 76ers

The Los Angeles Lakers 'top management plans to head east to meet Monty Williams, the Philadelphia 76ers' assistant, between the second and third games of the Sixers playoff series, ESPN told nearby sources of the league.

Chief Executive Rob Pelinka is spearheading the Lakers coaching research, in which Williams and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach, Ty Lue, are vital candidates, league sources said. .

The Lakers will be interviewing Juwan Howard, assistant coach of Lue and Miami Heat, this week as well, sources told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. The Lakers were allowed to interview Howard, sources told Shelburne.

Howard, who will also meet Cleveland for his position as head coach, was one of Pelinka University's teammates at the University of Michigan. After Monday night's match 2, the Sixers-Nets series have rest days on Tuesday and Wednesday before resuming with Game 3 in Brooklyn on Thursday.

Williams has resumed training this season as a senior assistant to Brett Brown. He had spent the previous two years in the offices of the San Antonio Spurs after the death of his wife, Ingrid, in early 2016.

Williams left the Oklahoma City Thunder as an assistant head coach after the death of his wife. He and his children moved to San Antonio, where Williams had expanded his family.

Before joining 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 at Mike Krzyzewski's USA Basketball coaching staff at the 2016 Rio Olympics.