In the wake of Dan Hurley from UConn exiting discussions, the Los Angeles Lakers now find themselves starting anew in their quest for a fresh coach. Could this prompt them to reconsider JJ Redick?
The Lakers’ pursuit appears to have completed a full circle after their rebuff by Hurley, who opts to remain where championship aspirations are more feasible. Additionally, he will avoid managing a superstar in the middle stages of his career.
Currently, names like Redick are emerging as potential alternative candidates.
As per Hoops Wire, the Lakers might shift their focus back to Redick – the former NBA guard turned ESPN analyst who also has the attention of LeBron James.
While they courted Hurley, sources suggest that the team kept lines open with other contenders.
Nevertheless, there is a diverse pool of other potential coaches – from the Pelicans’ assistant and former Hornets head coach James Borrego to Celtics’ assistant Sam Cassell, and Nuggets’ assistant David Adelman, among others.
Former Villanova coach Jay Wright has also emerged as a possibility according to a source familiar with the matter to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
In terms of preference, Lakers’ star center Anthony Davis may lean towards Borrego over Redick.
“Some sources within the league speculate that Anthony Davis might prefer James Borrego for the coaching role over Redick,” Stein stated. “Borrego holds the advantage of having headed coaching roles twice before, and he collaborated with Davis during his initial stint with the Pelicans post-Davis’s first-round draft selection in 2012.”
Redick lacks coaching experience. He has recently transitioned to providing insights for ESPN and launching a podcast with James. Allegedly, James is not meddling in the coaching selection process.
It is suggested that if Redick were to secure the head coach position, Borrego could potentially assume an assistant role. However, Stein raises doubts on this scenario.
“As previously noted on May 27, there’s a general consensus within coaching circles that the Lakers would prefer Borrego as part of the coaching staff in the event that Redick is appointed as head coach,” Stein elaborated. “Yet, skepticism exists about the Pelicans permitting Borrego, their current associate head coach, to make a lateral career shift while under an existing contract. Will the Lakers be successful in luring Borrego if he isn’t the primary choice?”
At the age of 46, Borrego has reportedly engaged with Cleveland and emerged as a prominent contender for the Cavaliers – potentially even the frontrunner, according to gossips.
Prior to his current role with the Pelicans, Borrego led the Hornets, amassing a 138-163 record from 2018-22, with the team showcasing incremental improvement in win total annually during his final three years.
Redick, aged 39, boasts a 15-season NBA career with multiple teams including the Magic, Bucks, Clippers, 76ers, Pelicans, and Mavericks. He stands 18th in the league’s historical records for 3-point field goal accuracy at 41.5%.
