Sixers’ Brett Brown praises Lakers coach Luke Walton, who’s dealing with heightened expectations with LeBron James in the fold

LOS ANGELES -- In his third season of coaching the Los Angeles Lakers, Luke Walton might have one of the most unstable great jobs in the NBA.

There’s a chance that he won’t be around for a fourth season because of the heightened expectations that came after signing LeBron James this past offseason. There’s a report that some within James’ camp would like a coaching change.

Regardless of what happens, Brett Brown is a fan of Walton and has been for a while. The 76ers coach mentioned how Walton, as a Golden State Warriors assistant, compiled a 39-4 record filling in for coach Steve Kerr for 43 games during the 2015-16 season.

“How can you not step back and say that’s a hell of a job?” said Brown, whose Sixers (32-18) face the Lakers Tuesday night at Staples Center.

His job at Golden State led to his hiring to guide a rebuilding Lakers squad. In an all-out rebuilding project, the Lakers combined to win 61 games during his first two seasons.

This season, the Lakers’ hope is to make the playoffs and add pieces to build a future NBA championship squad around James, a five-time league MVP.

The Lakers appear to be the preferred trade destination for New Orleans Pelicans center Anthony Davis. And the squad will be looking to add another A-list free agent this summer with players like Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant, who potentially will be available.

But it’s not certain that Walton will be around to lead what could become a star-studded squad next season.

At 26-24, the Lakers were the Western Conference’s ninth-place team with 30 games remaining. The top eight squads advance to the playoffs.

ESPN reported that team president Magic Johnson already has someone in mind to replace the coach.

“I think he’s a hell of a coach,” Brown said. “I think at this stage, especially with the injuries, it’s a tough job.”

James has been sidelined since Christmas with a groin injury. The Lakers were 6-10 in their first 16 games without him. Lonzo Ball (left ankle sprain) and Kyle Kuzma (left hip injury) also missed Tuesday’s game.

Corey Brewer knows a lot about most of the teams the Sixers have faced since he signed his first 10-day contract on Jan. 15.

He played for five of the seven teams they faced during that time. Brewer was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves seventh overall in the 2007 draft. The 32-year-old also played for the Houston Rockets .

The Rockets traded him to the Lakers on Feb. 23, 2017. Then on Feb. 28, 2018, he was bought out of his Lakers contract and signed with Oklahoma City Thunder.

“It’s kind of cool,” Brewer said of facing former teams. “It’s always good to see the other people, because I have good relationships with just about every team I played on.”

He’s looking forward to playing against the Lakers.

“Tonight I play against my young guys,” he said. “It’s going to be fun to play against those guys.”