A month into their offseason, 15-year NBA veteran and ESPN analyst JJ Redick may be characterized as the early favorite for the Los Angeles Lakers head coach vacancy. However, colleague Adrian Wojnarowski says that the franchise is “nowhere close” to making a decision.
“(Los Angeles Clippers head coach) Ty Lue was never really part of that search,” Wojnarowski admits. “But the Lakers are now starting to bring in candidates for longer, in-depth interviews. They had a series of, I think, kind of ‘get to know you’ interviews with people they didn’t know as well.”
Lakers ‘Nowhere Close’ to Head Coach Hire Amid JJ Redick Rumors
The latest on the Lakers coaching search for NBA Today, including Pelicans top assistant James Borrego meeting again with organization in LA today pic.twitter.com/OpUkSVeuRI
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 29, 2024
Revealing that New Orleans Pelicans top assistant James Borrego had a second interview with the Lakers on Wednesday, Wojnarowski says that the former Charlotte Hornets head coach “is a very serious candidate” in their coaching search. “But they’re going to bring in more,” the NBA insider adds. “I think over the next few weeks, you’re going to see more candidates come back in and dig a little deeper with the Lakers on this head coaching job.”
Along with Redick and Borrego, assistant coaches Kenny Atkinson (Golden State Warriors), Sean Sweeney (Dallas Mavericks), David Adelman (Denver Nuggets), Micah Nori (Minnesota Timberwolves), Sam Cassell (Boston Celtics), and Chris Quinn (Miami Heat) have been linked to the Lakers’ vacancy. L.A. reportedly received permission to interview each of these candidates.
Former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts, has also been named as a potential candidate. If so, they’ll have competition, as the Cleveland Cavaliers are interested in him as well. Like the Lakers, the Cavs fired their head coach shortly after a playoff exit that left a bitter taste in their mouths. Quinn, Atkinson, and Borrego have also interviewed for multiple teams during this coaching cycle.
The Last Word on JJ Redick
Ultimately, it makes sense for the Lakers to take their time with their coaching search.
Maybe it’s a coincidence that Klutch Sports’ Rich Paul let LeBron James’s intention to reach free agency slip. However, he’s also stressed that the Lakers make decisions without regard to James. In fact, Paul believes Anthony Davis should be their central focus. As a result, Redick’s viability of landing the gig taken a hit.
Redick’s undoubtedly a highly regarded for his knowledge of the game. Nonetheless, the biggest factor in his candidacy is his relationship with James. They’re not necessarily as thick as thieves. However, they’ve developed a genuine friendship, respecting the other as players and basketball minds. They’ve even created a podcast together, Mind the Game.
But if James isn’t playing in L.A. in 2024-25, the decision may look foolish in retrospect. As a result, candidates such as Borrego, Stotts, and Atkinson make plenty of sense for the Lakers. They’re experienced, respected by their peers, and perhaps refreshed after their last stints as head coach. Though a fresh face can certainly exceed expectations, Redick’s coaching background —or lack thereof —makes him the biggest gamble of all.
