Listing Lakers coach JJ Redick’s top 5 priorities to address during preseason
LA Lakers coach JJ Redick said in an interview during the franchise's media day that he’s ready to take on the tough task of guiding the team. Win or lose, he is embracing the accountability that goes with perhaps the most high-profile coaching job in the NBA.
“If there’s a sword that needs to be fallen on, I will gladly fall on the sword,” Redick told Lakers legend James Worthy.
Redick has already made a few initial outlines about what he wants to implement next season. Early on, he identified a few areas that need to be emphasized in training camp and preseason.
JJ Redick has also been open about making adjustments as the season progresses. How he remains flexible or stiff could have a big role in the team’s championship aspirations next season.
Here's a closer look at five areas JJ Redick will need to work on during the Lakers' training camp and preseason.
Top 5 priorities JJ Redick has to address in Lakers’ training camp and preseason games
#5. Define Rui Hachimura’s role
Many in Laker Nation thought former coach Darvin Ham could have utilized Rui Hachimura better during Ham’s stint in LA. The Japanese forward played in 68 games, 39 as a starter. JJ Redick will not go that way next season, naming Hachimura a fixture in the starting five.
Redick told reporters that he envisions Hachimura to be an “excellent cutter” because the Lakers will be “incorporating movement and cutting” and “manipulating screening angles.”
This early in training camp, Redick could emphasize what he meant by that to Rui Hachimura. The former Washington Wizards star will also get his fair share of possessions when a smaller defender is switched on him, per Redick.
The Lakers’ new coach will look to make it abundantly clear what he wants Hachimura to do on offense.
#4. Figure out who among the young players will get minutes
JJ Redick recently named his starting five and said he plans to have a nine-man rotation. Gabe Vincent, Max Christie, Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish and Jarred Vanderbilt are the veterans who will likely get a big part of the minutes off the bench.
LA’s roster, though, still has Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Lakers’ first-round pick last year, who needs playing time to develop. Dalton Knecht, the team’s No. 17 pick in 2024, is older than Christie and Hood-Schifino and will likely push for minutes as well.
Redick must figure out who among Christie, “JHS” and Knecht should get the minutes to make everyone’s roles clear.