The Russell Westbrook reason why JJ Redick is the wrong fit for the Lakers

When it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching job, the two names that have been surrounding it have been UConn’s Dan Hurley and former basketball player JJ Redick. Specifically about the latter, Philadelphia 76ers forward Danny Green was on “The Draymond Green Show” and expressed some concerns about Redick taking the Lakers job, comparing it to what happened with Russell Westbrook.

“I think JJ does deserve a coaching job. I don’t know if I’d like that one for him. The Lakers’ job is a tough one man,” Green said. “People think, you’re a tough mental player, kid, coach, you know I could do anything I’ve been through the ringer, I could handle it, ill be fine. Until you get in there, that ring is a different type of ring, and I’ve seen certain guys, even the most toughest guys, Russel Westbrook. There’s not a guy that I know in this league that is as tough mentally than him. He carries that confidence, chip on his shoulder, night in and night out, don’t give a damn who says anything. He went to LA and just looked like a different person.”

“I’m like damn those lights are different, that organization and those fans are different, it could change you,” Green continued. “It could kind of break some people, and it could make or break your career. As your first coaching job, for JJ, I don’t know if that’s the first one I want to get into.”

Dan Hurley seemingly the front runner for the Lakers job

While Green brings up some valid points about Redick and comparing it to Westbrook, the former player might not even get a chance to be the head coach as it has been reported that Hurley is who Los Angeles is targeting. In fact, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said before Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks that the Lakers want to get a deal done with Hurley “wrapped up this weekend.”

“Dan Hurley, I’m told, is on his way to meet with the Lakers tomorrow [Friday]. He will sit down with Rob Pelinka and owner Jeannie Buss. They will start to dig into what a Hurley-Lakers partnership would look like,” Wojnarowski said. “Hurley knows Rob Pelinka. They have spent time together in the past, talked basketball, but this will be his first time meeting with Jeannie Buss.”

“The Lakers would love to get a deal with Dan Hurley wrapped up this weekend,” Wojnarowski continued. “I expect these talks will move quickly. There is a lot of traction here between Hurley and the Lakers.”

This could come as a shock to a ton of people as Redick has a relationship with James in that they host a podcast together called “Mind The Game” and he has been heavily rumored for a while to be the next head coach. With whatever happens, the Lakers are trying to improve after a disappointing finish where they were swept in the first round by the Denver Nuggets while also finishing the season at the seventh seed with a 47-35.