J.J. Redick would be the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers
That’s each anticipated but nonetheless shocking. Redick’s title popped up as a possible candidate from the second Darvin Ham was fired (and, in speculative circles, even earlier than Ham was fired). He’s been the clear frontrunner by way of a lot of the course of, apart from a dalliance with Dan Hurley of UConn.
Nonetheless, it is shocking as a result of the Lakers have gone with a totally inexperienced coach at a transitional time for the franchise — attempting to win now within the closing years of LeBron James’ profession whereas constructing one thing sustainable for a post-LeBron world.
The Lakers made a high-risk, high-reward rent. Listed here are 5 takeaways from the transfer.
Hiring Redick solely first step, roster upgrades are wanted
It doesn’t matter if Redick is nice as a head coach or not if Lakers GM Rob Pelinka doesn’t improve the roster this offseason.
LeBron James — not so coincidentally Redick’s podcast accomplice — and Anthony Davis stay the anchors. Redick instructed the Lakers through the interview course of he desires to extend Davis’ position, stories The Athletic.
Redick described a system molded round this roster, specializing in elevating Anthony Davis’ involvement, notably late in video games, and assuaging the fixed ballhandling duties on James by using him extra off the ball. Protecting James, who turns 40 in December, recent down the stretch of the common season and into the playoffs might be important.
Meaning discovering one other high-level ball handler and shot creator on the commerce market. Trae Younger is a reputation that has come up as a possible commerce goal, and inside a pair hours of Redick being employed Younger posted this on X (previously Twitter).
The Lakers want greater than stars. Take a look at the final two NBA champions — Boston and Denver — and it’s clear how essential it’s to have high quality position gamers who match nicely across the stars. Along with one other ball handler, Pelinka must improve the expertise on the wings (having a wholesome Jarred Vanderbilt will assist).
Redick must do his half, placing gamers in higher positions and growing gamers like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Max Christie to take the following steps of their careers.
In the end, expertise wins within the NBA, and the Lakers want extra of it in the event that they wish to keep away from the play-in subsequent season in what might be a deeper and higher Western Convention.
Be affected person, give Redick time to develop into the job
Give Rob Pelinka credit score, he didn’t play it protected.
Redick is a rent that breaks the mildew — it’s not a former head coach or high assistant, and it’s not a former Laker (in actual fact, he’s a former Clipper).
The Lakers wanted their mildew to be damaged, to attempt one thing new.
With that has to come back persistence. Perhaps essentially the most talked about statistic through the Lakers teaching search was that the group had completed greater than seventh within the West simply as soon as within the final dozen years (2020, after they gained the title). Coach turnover has been an indication of an impatient entrance workplace and possession and not using a plan — no coach since Phil Jackson has lasted greater than three years with the Lakers.
Redick may very well be the man to interrupt that streak, however the Lakers have to be affected person — let him be taught on the job. Let him make errors, undergo losses and develop. Boston administration didn’t freak out at Joe Mazzulla’s rookie struggles (he was thrown into the job on the final minute his first 12 months, to be honest). He clearly grew into the position.
One factor in Redick’s favor: if he fails on this job ax is not only going to be swinging at him. That is Rob Pelinka’s third coach rent with the Lakers, and through that course of he tried to lowball Tyronn Lue (simply three years and needed to place coaches on his workers) after which didn’t provide Hurley sufficient cash to get him out of UConn (that quantity could have been past Pelinka’s management, however then don’t go down the highway).
As a result of Pelinka is aware of he’s in hassle if Redick is one other swing and a miss, he needs to be affected person.
Redick has to handle strain, expectations
One of many tougher components of the Lakers’ teaching job is coping with the highlight, the rabid fan base and the outsized expectations in comparison with the expertise on the roster — and that is not simply the followers, it is the entrance workplace as nicely. The Lakers solely grasp championship banners and incremental success is never celebrated. It may result in quick time period considering in roster constructing.
The unreasonable expectations will begin this season. Lakers followers will prop up the group’s roster saying that Denver is the one group that has overwhelmed them within the playoffs the final two years. As at all times, expectations might be excessive. Actuality says the Lakers must be ranked behind Dallas, Denver, Minnesota, Oklahoma Metropolis, and Memphis (a 50+ win group that will get all people again wholesome) to start out the season. That has the Lakers wanting like a 6-8 seed and possibly a play-in group once more. That’s could not sit nicely with LeBron, the entrance workplace or the fan base.
Redick has to not let all of the media consideration, followers on social media and the expectations get to him. Simply preserve grinding.
Assist Redick with veteran workers of assistant coaches
Becase he hasn’t, Redick wants folks round him who’ve performed this earlier than. The Lakers have to spend on assistant coaches and assemble a veteran workers to assist information the rookie coach.
That begins with getting an skilled former head coach as a lead assistant. Former Thunder coach Scott Brooks, now an assistant in Portland, is one title that got here up. One other is former 76ers head coach and former Spurs assistant Brett Brown. It by no means hurts to lob Stan Van Gundy a name, though whether or not he desires to go away his cozy broadcast chair to be an assistant coach is up for debate.
After that, discover veteran former gamers. Rajon Rondo has been talked about. So have Jared Dudley in Dallas and Sam Cassell in Boston (though pulling these guys off successful groups is unlikely and really costly if profitable).
Whoever it’s, give Redick some guys he can lean on.
Let Redick be Redick (cease with Spoelstra comps)
This ties considerably into the persistence matter above — don’t attempt to put Redick within the field of being the following Pat Riley or Erik Spoelstra. Let him be Redick.
Some followers and media have needed to match Redick to Miami’s hiring of Spoelstra, the person immediately thought of the perfect coach within the league. That’s a horrible analogy. Spoelstra by no means performed within the NBA and began as a video coordinator, labored his manner up by way of the ranks, proved he was a grinder, grew to become an assistant coach, realized and received higher, then had the right combination of preparation and character when he received the job. Plus, he had Pat Riley’s backing (even within the face of LeBron James wanting him gone). That isn’t Redick’s path.
Riley isn’t Redick’s path both, whereas he had been a broadcaster he’d additionally been an assistant coach for a few years.
It doesn’t imply Redick gained’t work out — he very nicely might. His basketball IQ and work ethic are usually not in query. Whereas Redick’s lack of expertise is a priority, he isn’t somebody who involves the job with the crimson flags seen in some first-time head coaches.
However be affected person, give him an opportunity, and let Redick be Redick.
