“Clear frontrunner right now” - NBA insider reveals JJ Redick as Lakers favorite to land head coaching job
JJ Redick is now the focus of the LA Lakers for the head coach position, according to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Lakers believe that Tyronn Lue will be unavailable this offseason, so they have shifted their attention to Redick.
Originally, the plan was to wait for more information regarding Lue's status. However, sources indicate that the Lakers have obtained sufficient clarity without breaching tampering regulations and are now advancing with their plans.
The LA Clippers have been awaiting the Lakers' coach hire, as it would reduce Lue's leverage in their negotiations. League sources have consistently said since the end of the Clippers' season that Lue is staying put.
Last week, reports indicated that the Lakers would start interviewing all their candidates. They have since obtained the required permissions to interview assistant coaches from teams still in the playoffs.
Sources indicate that the Lakers are approaching their meeting with JJ Redick with high expectations.. Given Redick's success as a podcaster and TV analyst, indications are that he will likely meet those expectations, prompting the Lakers to move quickly in hiring him.
Although Redick has been the preferred candidate for over a week, sources say the Lakers will still conduct interviews with all their candidates with an open mind. While there's no guarantee that Redick will be hired, the consensus is that the job is his to lose.
JJ Redick is a safe option as a head coach for LA Lakers
James Borrego, Kenny Atkinson, David Adelman, Micah Nori and Chris Quinn have all been cited as candidates for the Lakers' coaching position, but a considerable gap has emerged between JJ and the rest.
Following Darvin Ham's brief tenure of only two seasons as a rookie head coach, the possibility of hiring him, who has no coaching experience, has left many around the league puzzled. However, one Eastern Conference executive offers a theory on why the Lakers might be considering this direction:
“If they hire JJ and it doesn’t work out,” the source said. “Rob [Pelinka] can basically tell Jeanie [Buss] the hire was for LeBron [James] and get another chance at hiring whoever comes next. This is technically the safest hire he could make, outside of Ty somehow being available.”
Sources close to the Lakers say that JJ is valued for his exceptional organization, strong communication skills and meticulous attention to detail in his analysis.
These qualities make them confident in hiring him as a first-time coach, despite his lack of experience on a high-level coaching staff. The former Duke standout's 14-year career as an influential player and his relationship with James also lead them to believe that he could effectively hold players accountable, according to sources.
The Lakers are not alone in this assessment, though. Reddick was a finalist for the Charlotte Hornets' coaching position before Charles Lee was hired. Following Lee's hiring, many around the league speculated that he might have declined the opportunity, anticipating another offer on the horizon.