JJ Redick is officially the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Now that he's the man in charge he'll be making hires to form his staff. The latest rumors suggest that Redick is eyeing a group with a ton of experience.
Nothing is set in stone, but it sounds like Redick is eying Scott Brooks, Rajon Rondo, Jared Dudley, and Sam Cassell, according to Shams Charania, Sam Amick, and Jovan Buha of The Athletic. That group has won eight total NBA titles in their respective careers.
“Assistant coaching candidates for Redick's staff will include former head coach and recent Trail Blazers assistant Scott Brooks, former Lakers guard Rajon Rondo, ex-Laker and current Dallas Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley and [Sam] Cassell, according to league sources.”
Brooks and Dudley each won one title as a player. Meanwhile, Rondo won two during his time with the Boston Celtics. Lastly, Cassell won three as a player and just secured his fourth title this season as an assistant of the Celtics.
If Redick can acquire that group then the Lakers coaching staff would be full of experience. That would go a long way in helping JJ Redick develop as a coach. Additionally, those guys all have plenty of experience in getting the best out of their players.
Even so, these names are just rumors for now as the Lakers will likely cast a wide net for Redick. The goal is to obtain the best possible coaching staff, as Los Angeles aims to be a consistent championship contender for years to come.
Is JJ Redick the best fit for the Lakers?
This is a risky decision for the Lakers no matter how you look at it. The franchise has had no consistency at the head coaching position over the years. Now they have JJ Redick leading the way who has no coaching experience whatsoever. So, hopefully, he can fill out a staff that brings the experience he's lacking.
With that in mind, this isn't the first time an organization hired a former player with no coaching experience. The Golden State Warriors made a similar bold decision back in 2014 after hiring Steve Kerr as head coach. Golden State has won four titles between 2015 and 2022.
Nothing is guaranteed though, as Kerr could be an outlier. But Redick was known for being a smart player during his tenure in the NBA. Between his mind for basketball and his consistent three-point shooting, JJ Redick proved to be a solid player throughout his career.
In terms of being a good fit with the Lakers, we'll have to wait and see. The good news is that Redick has a rapport with LeBron James who Los Angeles aims to re-sign this offseason. As long as JJ Redick can get the best out of the entire roster outside of James, then LA should be in good hands. But hopefully, the front office can reel in an improved roster this offseason, otherwise next season could be another disappointment.
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