Lakers and Cavaliers set to battle for James Borrego's signature amid Dan Hurley drama - Report
Following the news that UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley has declined to take the LA Lakers job, former Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego is again at the forefront. However, LA isn't the only team looking to secure Borrego's services.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are looking for a replacement for J.B. Bickerstaff, are also interested in securing the New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach's services.
James Borrego spent time as an assistant coach in New Orleans (2010-12), Orlando (2012-15), and San Antonio (2015-18). After San Antonio, the Hornets signed him as their head coach to replace Steve Clifford. He coached the team from 2018-22 and compiled a win-loss record of 138-163.
Aside from being the Hornets' head coach for four seasons, he also stepped in as an interim head coach in 2015 after firing Jacque Vaughn. Borrego's record with the Magic was 10-20, bringing his total win-loss as a head coach to 148-183.
Borrego has a chance to improve his all-time coaching record if he ends up signing with the Lakers, the Cavaliers or any other team that ends up showing interest in hiring him as their new head coach.
JJ Redick in demand again for Lakers as UConn HC turns down Lakers' $70 million offer
Now that the Lakers are again on the hunt for a head coach following Dan Hurley's decision to remain at UConn, a previous candidate's name is back in the mix, and that name is JJ Redick.
Redick, a 15-year NBA veteran, wowed fans with his impeccable basketball IQ, which he displayed in his job as an ESPN analyst and his other gig as a podcast host.
Redick initially hosted 'Old Man and the Three' with Tommy Alter. Then, just this March, he also launched a podcast called 'Mind the Game' with LeBron James. He and LeBron take a deep dive into the X's and O's of basketball to help fans better understand the inner workings of various plays.
During his playing days, Redick was known as a deadly sharpshooter. While he never won any major accolades, he was one of the most coveted talents due to how he stretched defenses.
He is a career 41.5% shooter from beyond the arc, with his best season happening in 2015-16 with the LA Clippers, wherein he shot a league-leading 47.5% from downtown.
It seems the Lakers' open head coaching position is down to Redick and James Borrego. If Borrego lands the job, there should still be an abundance of opportunities for JJ Redick to try his hand at coaching elsewhere. However, he might need to wait beyond the 2024-25 season for it to materialize.