Lakers Bet On JJ Redick As Next Head Coach

Lakers Hire JJ Redick As Next Head Coach

After a drama-filled offseason search, the Lakers have settled on JJ Redick to take over as the franchise's next head coach. I used the word settled because they made it clear that UConn head coach Dan Hurley was their first choice. The organization offered Hurley a six-year, $70 million contract that he turned down, opting to stay put at UConn.

The Lakers then offer Redick a four-year deal in the neighborhood of $8 million per season, according to reports. It's not surprising that the offer wasn't quite as steep as Hurley's being Redick has zero head coaching experience, beyond the youth level.

What Redick does have, however, is a podcast with the Lakers' best player, LeBron James. Will that help him when it comes to winning games? Absolutely not, but it likely helped him in landing the job.

According to a tweet from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, "[GM Rob] Pelinka became sold on Redick’s ability to connect with players and his basketball IQ and believes surrounding him with an elite coaching staff will help to shorten the learning curve into his first coaching job."

So, what should fans expect from a team with a 39-year-old star and a first-year head coach?

Why The Lakers Hired Redick

Redick might not have any prior head coaching experience, but he does have plenty of NBA experience. The former guard spent 15 years in the league, playing the majority of his career for the Magic and Clippers with stops in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Dallas too. He's also spent the last few years as an NBA analyst for ESPN, most recently calling the NBA Finals.

The Lakers' front office will never come out and say this, but I'd find it hard to believe that retaining James wasn't one of the main reasons for hiring Redick. The two have spent the last few months talking X's and O's on their podcast "The Mind Game" and it's clear that James respects Redick's knowledge. James has a $51.4 million player option for next season that he'll have to decide on before June 29. Hiring a coach that aligns with James' thinking is a step in the right direction when it comes to courting their superstar.

Former Players Turned Head Coaches

There are plenty of instances in which former players have secured head coaching positions in the NBA. However, there aren't many that have succeeded in their first stop. One of the most recent examples is the man that Redick is replacing, Darvin Ham. Ham spent two seasons at the helm of the Purple and Gold before a first-round sweep in this year's postseason cost him his job. Steve Nash had his first coaching stint with the Nets, which ended quickly. The same can be said for Jason Kidd's time in Brooklyn, lasting just one season.

Redick has drawn internal comparisons to a young Pat Riley being he followed a similar path from player to broadcaster and now coach. It will take decades before Redick reaches the level of success that Riley had as a coach, but L.A. is optimistic that he's on the right path as long as he hires the right staff around him.

Several names have been reported as potential assistant coaches, including Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley, Celtics assistant Sam Cassell and Blazers assistant Scott Brooks. Rajon Rondo, who recently retired, has also been in the conversation. However, with no coaching experience himself, I'm not sure he'd be the right fit.

Betting On The Lakers In 2023-24

Save your money. That's my best advice when it comes to betting on the Lakers next season. They are 14-1 to win the West and 30-1 to win the title at DraftKings. The West is incredibly competitive right now, making it a challenge for even a veteran head coach to win, let alone a rookie. James will turn 40 in December, and for as good as he still is, the Lakers will need a lot to go their way before they can be a serious contender this upcoming season.

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