Has Los Angeles Lakers GM Rod Pelinka settled on a new coach? And is JJ Redick ready to go from the ESPN announcer’s booth to the NBA head-coaching ranks?
As The Athletic’s Shams Charania told The Pat McAfee Show on Friday, the former Los Angeles Clippers sharpshooter is now the ‘favorite’ to take over the rival Lakers after the dismissal of Darvin Ham.
‘Going into this process and right now, my sense is that JJ Redick, he is the guy around the league that everyone believes is the front-runner for this job,’ Charania said.
Charania previously reported that Lakers star LeBron James would not be involved in the hiring process. As it happens, James currently co-hosts a podcast with Redick after playing against him for 15 seasons, so the two are well known to each other.
A former Duke standout and legendary perimeter shooter, Redick was known for being a savvy player over his career and has remained relevant in NBA circles since retiring in 2021 by working for ESPN and hosting his own podcast.
James currently co-hosts a podcast with Redick after playing against him for 15 seasons
James is signed through next season, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he will be back in LA in 2024-25.
With his son, Bronny, entering the draft, there is considerable speculation that the four-time league champion could use his leverage to force a trade to whomever picks his namesake next month.
However, Charania previously reported that James is not currently looking at forcing a trade in order to play with Bronny, although that could potentially change after the NBA Draft.
The Lakers are also considering NBA assistants such as Sam Cassell, Micah Nori, David Adelman and James Borrego, according to multiple reports.
Bronny James drives to the basket during the 2024 NBA Combine on May 15
Ham led Los Angeles to the Western Conference finals less than a year ago in his first season as an NBA head coach. He had replaced Frank Vogel, who was fired by the Lakers exactly 18 months after winning the franchise’s 17th championship in 2020.
Ham had two winning seasons and made two playoff appearances, but that’s not enough with the championship-focused Lakers. With little time left to capitalize on the concurrent presence of Anthony Davis and 39-year-old LeBron James — who hasn’t decided whether to return for his 22nd NBA season — the Lakers are resetting their coaching staff once again instead of blaming general manager Rob Pelinka for his roster construction.
‘We greatly appreciate Darvin’s efforts on behalf of the Lakers and recognize the many accomplishments achieved over the past two seasons, including last year’s remarkable run to the Western Conference finals,’ Pelinka said in a statement. ‘We all want to thank Darvin for his dedication and positivity. While this was a difficult decision to make, it is the best course of action following a full review of the season. This organization will remain unwavering in its commitment to deliver championship-caliber basketball to Lakers fans around the world.’
Ham presided over a disappointing year for the Lakers, who went 47-35 in the regular season and won the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament. The Lakers then beat New Orleans in a play-in game to move up to the seventh seed in the highly competitive Western Conference — but that meant they had to face Denver, which swept them out of the playoffs last season.