JJ Redick eyeing key member of 2020 Lakers' title run as addition to his staff with rival HC job candidates: Report
JJ Redick is reportedly already setting sights on his staff as the LA Lakers head coach. According to the latest reports by Marc Stein, Redick is eyeing former Lakers player Jared Dudley, a veteran locker room leader during the team's 2020 title run. His other two choices are his rival candidates for the Lakers' job, Celtics assistant Sam Cassell and Pelicans assistant James Borrego.
Redick seems to be doing a solid job of ensuring that he's surrounded by a wealth of experience on his first job if these personnel are his reported choices. Among the top candidates in the Lakers' coaching search, the former Duke star is the only one with no NBA coaching experience as an assistant.
James Borrego has been a head coach for four seasons with the Charlotte Hornets between 2018 and 2022 and an interim head coach for 30 games with the Orlando Magic in 2015. He hails from the Gregg Popovich coaching tree, under whom he served as an assistant for seven years until 2010. Borrego has been a top assistant coach for 16 years and has a combined coaching experience of 20 years.
Meanwhile, former player-turned-coach Sam Cassell has been an assistant since 2009. He served under Doc Rivers between 2014 and 2023. Cassell was also an assistant coach for JJ Redick during his Clippers stint between 2014 and 2017. Cassell is an assistant coach for the league's leading record holders, Boston Celtics, this season.
Meanwhile, Jared Dudley, once a well-respected veteran in his final seasons as a player, has been an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks since 2021. The Mavs have been to the conference finals twice since he began his coaching tenure under Jason Kidd. Dudley also shares a good relationship with Lakers superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Former Lakers champion and head coach not confident about JJ Redick
Former Lakers champion and head coach Byron Scott doesn't have faith in JJ Redick's prospects as a head coach. Scott, who went to the finals as a coach with the New Jersey Nets in 2002 and 2003, cited Redick's lack of bench time as an assistant as a reason for his lack of confidence.
"It's hard jumping in that seat as a first-time head coach," Scott told TMZ. "I don't know if he has what it takes to be a great head coach in the NBA, but again, if he gets that opportunity, we'll find out real soon."
JJ Redick is an unproven coaching talent but seems well-versed with Xs and Os. He has displayed his knowledge on the sidelines as a broadcaster with ESPN and on his podcasts. Redick has flirted with landing a potential coaching job in recent years as an HC with the Toronto Raptors last offseason, as an assistant with the Celtics, and now the Lakers.
The links to LA seem to be the closest Redick has ever gotten to landing a coaching job in the league. If Redick, a reported frontrunner for the job, is the ultimate choice, the Lakers will likely announce his hiring soon after the NBA Finals.
JJ Redick will cover the series alongside ESPN's 'A' team, Doris Burke and Mike Breen.