NBA Insider Convinced Lakers Have Identified Next Head Coach

The Los Angeles Lakers are on the hunt for their third coach in four years, continuing their trend of seeking former players who lack NBA coaching experience.

JJ Redick has emerged as a frontrunner for the franchise's next head coach, following in the footsteps of recently ousted coach Darvin Ham. However, whoever steps into the role faces an uncertain landscape.

With LeBron James approaching 40 in December, there's legitimate concern about the team's long-term prospects, despite James' ongoing battle against Father Time. The question arises: what is the Lakers' potential ceiling with an aging star?

The crucial issue for the Lakers' next coach will be whether they'll have the time and support to instill a new culture or if the pressure to perform will lead to another brief tenure.

JJ Redick to Los Angeles Rumors Heating Up

The Los Angeles Lakers have maintained a trend of short coaching tenures, with each of the last six coaches lasting no more than three seasons, even amidst championship success. This pattern persisted with the recent dismissal of Darvin Ham after just two years.

The urgency to find a new coach is heightened by the need to maximize the team's championship window before LeBron James concludes his illustrious career. NBA insider Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report indicated on the Dan Patrick Show that the Lakers are likely to appoint JJ Redick as their next head coach. Redick, who co-hosts the "Mind The Game" podcast with James, seems to be a favored candidate for the position.

"I will be very surprised if their next Head Coach is anybody but JJ Redick. Everything that I'm hearing is JJ Redick. From what I know he's doing some background, calling some assistant coaching candidates who might be able to join his staff."

-@ChrisBHaynes on #Lakers next HC pic.twitter.com/XipwSlN6wo

— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) May 29, 2024

NBA Insiders Jovan Buha and Shams Charania of The Athletic report that the Lakers view JJ Redick as possessing the potential reminiscent of Pat Riley.

L.A. Keeping The Door Open for Other Candidates?

The upcoming coach for the franchise faces the daunting task of navigating the transition beyond the LeBron James–Anthony Davis era. It's imperative for the Lakers to appoint someone who commands the respect of James and Davis while adeptly leveraging their talents to their fullest potential. Despite the Lakers' tight-lipped approach to the search process, numerous reports have linked them to various current and former head coaches.

Initially, there was speculation that the Lakers hoped their crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers, wouldn't extend Ty Lue's contract. However, with the Clippers recently extending Lue's contract through the 2028-29 season, that avenue for the Lakers has been closed off.

Presently, the Lakers are reportedly engaged in discussions with James Borrego, an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans. Borrego is slated for in-person meetings at the Lakers' practice facility on Wednesday. He brings valuable coaching experience from his tenure with the Charlotte Hornets, where he compiled a record of 138-163 over four seasons. Notably, in his final season with the Hornets, Borrego guided the team to a 43-39 record, showcasing his potential to lead a team to success.

The latest on the Lakers coaching search for NBA Today, including Pelicans top assistant James Borrego meeting again with organization in LA today pic.twitter.com/OpUkSVeuRI

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 29, 2024

The Lakers finished the season with a 47-35 record, ultimately falling to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs in five games. Following this disappointing postseason exit, the Lakers made the decision to part ways with Darvin Ham after just two seasons at the helm. During his tenure, Ham compiled a regular-season record of 90-74 and a postseason record of 9-12.

The appointment of a rookie head coach in 2022 was met with controversy, given the high stakes and expectations surrounding the Lakers organization. Despite this, it seems that the Lakers are on the verge of making a similar decision two years later, opting for a relatively inexperienced candidate to lead the team forward.