NBA
JJ Redick reportedly preparing his backroom staff in case of LA Lakers coach role
According to several reports, the former NBA player will be the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2024/25 season.
The Los Angeles Lakers have yet to name Darvin Ham’s successor for next season, but all indications are that JJ Redick will be the next head coach. Although he has no experience coaching an NBA team, the front office is impressed with the plan he presented to them at a meeting last week when they interviewed several candidates.
According to multiple reports, JJ Redick already has his assistant coaching staff ready to go if the Lakers make his hiring official. The former NBA player needs people with a lot of experience around him because this would be his first time at the helm of a team; on top of that, his appointment would come with the expectation of winning a championship in his first year as head coach.
Taking a look at JJ Redick’s Lakers potential coaching staff
Although JJ Redick is in pole position to take over, Lakers officials are scheduled to meet this week in person with James Borrego and Sam Cassell, both of whom have NBA coaching experience. Borrego coached the Charlotte Hornets and helped improve the New Orleans Pelicans’ offence as an assistant this season. He was also on the coaching staff when Anthony Davis was with the team and maintains a good relationship with the Lakers star.
If James Borrego is not offered the coaching job, the Lakers want to bring him in to be JJ Redick’s assistant as they want to surround him with people with a lot of experience. It has also been reported that if Redick takes the job they will hire Sam Cassell and Jared Dudley. It is expected that the Los Angeles Lakers will make a decision between this week and next week.
For now, however, the Lakers can focus on regrouping after yet another painful exit in the postseason. The team, led on the court by LeBron James, lost out against the all-powerful Denver Nuggets, a thorn in their side over recent seasons.
After going down 3-0 in the playoff series, the Lakers faced a potential sweep. A win in game 4 gave them momentary space to breathe, but the Nuggets turned on the style in game 5, finishing off the Los Angeles side and sending them on an early vacation.