The Los Angeles Lakers officially introduced new coach JJ Redick on Monday, where the former NBA player answered questions about the process of getting the job.
He also spoke about the Lakers' pursuit of UConn Basketball coach Dan Hurley, who the team flirted with before ultimately landing with Redick:
Said Redick on the Lakers' conversations with Hurly, “[He] is a two-time national champion at UConn. I am a two-time 55 Swish League Champion in the 3rd and 4th grade divisions. I understood.”
Redick retired from the NBA in 2021 and has since been an NBA analyst on ESPN. He's also been in the podcast business including the recent “Mind the Game” alongside James. Redick's first order of business will be to fill out his coaching staff with names such as Monty Williams, Rajon Rondo and Jared Dudley being floated around.
Williams was recently fired by the Detroit Pistons and Dudley is currently an assistant coach on the Dallas Mavericks staff.
Redick's contract with the Lakers is for four years at around $8 million per year.
With JJ Redick hired, Lakers' offseason now revolves around LeBron James
Now that Redick is in place as the Lakers' head coach, the team's attention turns to the NBA Draft.
The Lakers have two draft picks, No. 17 and No. 55, to use later this week. It's possible they could end up trading the No. 17 pick as part of a package to improve the roster, but they have also been linked to Purdue center Zach Edey. At No. 55 they'd have more limited options although they've been connected to LeBron James' son Bronny, at that draft spot.
The top priority for the Lakers this offseason is re-signing LeBron to a long-term contract extension that will keep in Los Angeles for the remainder of his career. James has a player option this offseason and he's most likely going to opt-out. That doesn't mean that he's going to leave the Lakers, although that possibility – no matter how unlikely – is on the table.
The Lakers need to convince James that they're his best option for competing for a championship as long as he continues playing. While he may be in the end-stages of his career, he's still playing at an All-Star level. Should James return as expected, the Lakers will, along with big man Anthony Davis, have two pieces of the puzzle intact.
The Lakers introduced JJ Redick to the media on Monday afternoon. He seemed at ease and ready to get to work. But the real work is just beginning this offseason.
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