JJ Redick-to-Lakers buzz heats up with coaching staff ‘rumbles’

It has nearly been a month since the Los Angeles Lakers have exited the playoffs, and yet here they remain, being one of the teams remaining in plenty of conversation in league circles amidst their search for a new head coach in the aftermath of their decision to relieve Darvin Ham of his duties after just two years in his post. The Lakers appear hell-bent on making sure that the final few years of LeBron James’ career are spent in championship contention, which makes finding the right head coach to lead the team to the promised land a must.

Now, it appears as though the Lakers have decided that JJ Redick, who is currently an analyst on the ESPN commentary booth alongside Mike Breen and Doris Burke, is their preferred candidate to fill their vacant head coaching job. Adding more fuel to the flame of Redick’s likely hiring is that rumors regarding potential candidates to fill the would-be first time head coach’s staff are starting to circulate, per NBA insider Marc Stein (subscription required).

Redick, if he does end up getting the Lakers job, appears likely to be helming a staff of veteran assistants, with Sam Cassell and James Borrego, both of whom have considerable experience, being “prime targets” for them to bring in. Moreover, the Lakers are looking to bring in a familiar face in Jared Dudley, the current Dallas Mavericks assistant coach who was part of the LeBron James-led team that won the championship in 2020.

Dudley, as Stein wrote, had built strong relationships with James and Anthony Davis, making him a potentially valuable member of the Lakers coaching staff if they are able to bring him in alongside JJ Redick.

In 2020, the Lakers won a championship thanks in large part to the experienced coaching staff they were able to bring in alongside the newly-hired Frank Vogel. Can they catch lightning in a bottle again, this time with Redick looking more and more likely to be at the helm with each passing day?

LeBron James’ camp denies involvement in JJ Redick-Lakers rumors

It seems like anything the Lakers do is linked to whatever it is that LeBron James wants. Such is the power James wields; his influence on a franchise remains as strong as ever even though he’s turning 40 later in the year. The Lakers, after all, will find it difficult to contend for a championship if they don’t bring back James, so keeping him happy, especially when he’s likely to decline his player option, is a must.

Thus, with JJ Redick being the frontrunner to fill the Lakers’ head coaching vacancy, many around the league are sensing that James may have something to do with this development. After all, James has built quite the strong rapport with Redick, with the two even hosting a podcast together (Mind the Game).

However, LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, contends that the Lakers will be making the head coaching hiring decision independently of James’ wishes.

“This is a Lakers decision,” Paul told Chris Haynes in an interview with Bleacher Report, per Stein. “I always advise LeBron or anybody for that matter not to really position yourself in a manner of which you have a hand so strong in a decision that could come back to bite you down the road.”

With how involved James was in bringing Russell Westbrook into the team back in 2021, it’s understandable that The King’s camp is now more hesitant in overextending his level of involvement on franchise decisions.