JJ Redick will be the new coach of the Los Angeles Lakers
This is expected, but still surprising. Redick’s name came up as a potential candidate from the moment Darvin Ham was fired (and, in speculative circles, even before Ham was fired). He’s been the frontrunner for most of the process, save for a dalliance with UConn’s Dan Hurley.
Still, it’s surprising why the Lakers opted for a completely inexperienced coach at a time of transition for the franchise – trying to win now in the final years of LeBron James’ career while building something sustainable for a post-LeBron world.
The Lakers made a high-risk, high-reward signing. Here are five takeaways from the change.
Hiring Redick only in the first step, roster updates are necessary
It won’t matter if Redick is good as a head coach or not if Lakers GM Rob Pelinka doesn’t update the roster this offseason.
LeBron James – not coincidentally Redick’s podcast partner – and Anthony Davis remain the anchors. Redick told the Lakers during the interview process that he wants to increase Davis’ role, reports Atlético.
Redick described a system shaped around this lineup, with a focus on elevating Anthony Davis’ involvement, especially late in games, and alleviating James’ constant ball-handling duties by utilizing him more off the ball. Keeping James, who turns 40 in December, through the end of the regular season and into the playoffs will be key.
That means finding another high-level ball handler and shot creator on the trade market. Trae Young is a name that has emerged as a potential trade target, and a few hours after Redick was signed, Young posted this on X (formerly Twitter).
The Lakers need more than stars. Look at the last two NBA champions – Boston and Denver – and it’s clear how important it is to have quality players who fit well around the stars. In addition to being another ball handler, Pelinka needs to improve his talent on the wing (having a healthy Jarred Vanderbilt will help).
Redick needs to do his part by putting players in better positions and developing players like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Max Christie to take the next steps in their careers.
Ultimately, talent wins in the NBA, and the Lakers need more talent if they want to avoid the play-in next season in what will be a better, deeper Western Conference.
Be patient, give Redick time to grow on the job
Give Rob Pelinka credit, he didn’t play it safe.
Redick is a mold-breaking hire – he’s not a former head coach or assistant, and he’s not a former Laker (in fact, he’s a former Clipper).
The Lakers needed to break their mold, to try something new.
With that comes patience. Perhaps the most mentioned statistic during the Lakers coaching search was that the team has finished higher than seventh in the West just once in the last twelve years (2020, when they won the title). Coaching turnover has been a sign of impatience in the front office and ownership without a plan — no coach since Phil Jackson has lasted more than three years with the Lakers.
Redick could be the guy to break that streak, but the Lakers need to be patient – let him learn on the job. Let him make mistakes, suffer losses and grow. Boston’s front office didn’t freak out about Joe Mazzulla’s struggles as a rookie (he was signed at the last minute in his freshman year, to be fair). He’s obviously grown into the role.
One thing in Redick’s favor: If he fails in this job, the ax won’t just be swung at him. This is Rob Pelinka’s third coaching hire with the Lakers, and during that process he tried to demote Tyronn Lue (only three years and wanted to put coaches on his staff) and then didn’t offer Hurley enough money to get him out of UConn (this number may be out of Pelinka’s control, but don’t go that route).
Since Pelinka knows he will be in trouble if Redick misses again and misses, he must be patient.
Redick has to manage pressure, expectations
One of the hardest parts of the Lakers coaching job is dealing with the spotlight, the rabid fan base and the outsized expectations compared to the talent on the roster — and that’s not just the fans, it’s the front office as well. The Lakers just hang championship banners and incremental success is rarely celebrated. This can lead to short-term thinking in roster construction.
The unreasonable expectations will begin this season. Lakers fans will support the team’s roster by saying that Denver is the only team that has beaten them in the playoffs the last two years. As always, expectations will be high. Reality says the Lakers need to fall behind Dallas, Denver, Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Memphis (a 50+ win team that has everyone coming back healthy) to start the season. This made the Lakers look like a 6-8 seed and likely a play-in team again. This may not sit well with LeBron, the front office, or the fan base.
Redick shouldn’t let all the media attention, social media fans and expectations get to him. Keep grinding.
Help Redick with a veteran team of assistant coaches
If that doesn’t happen, Redick needs people around him who have done this before. The Lakers need to spend on assistant coaches and assemble a veteran staff to help guide the rookie coach.
That starts with hiring an experienced former coach as a lead assistant. Former Thunder coach Scott Brooks, now an assistant in Portland, is one name that has come up. Another is former 76ers coach and former Spurs assistant Brett Brown. It never hurts to call Stan Van Gundy, although it’s up for debate whether he wants to leave his comfortable broadcasting chair to be an assistant coach.
After that, find former veteran players. Rajon Rondo was mentioned. The same happened with Jared Dudley in Dallas and Sam Cassell in Boston (although getting those guys off winning teams is unlikely and very expensive if successful).
Whoever it is, give Redick some guys he can lean on.
Let Redick be Redick (stop with the Spoelstra songwriting)
This ties in a bit to the patience topic above – don’t try to put Redick in the box of being the next Pat Riley or Erik Spoelstra. Let it be Redick.
Some fans and the media wanted to compare Redick to Miami’s hiring of Spoelstra, now considered the best coach in the league. That’s a terrible analogy. Spoelstra never played in the NBA and started as a video coordinator, worked his way up the ranks, proved he was a grinder, became an assistant coach, learned and improved, then had the right mix of preparation and personality when he got the job. Plus, he had the support of Pat Riley (even though LeBron James wanted him gone). That’s not Redick’s way.
Riley is also not Redick’s path, although he was a broadcaster, he was also an assistant coach for a few years.
That doesn’t mean Redick won’t make it — he very well could. His basketball IQ and work ethic are not in question. While Redick’s lack of experience is a concern, he’s not someone who comes into the job with the red flags seen in some entry-level coaches.
But be patient, give him a chance, and let Redick be Redick.
