After parting ways with Darvin Ham, the Los Angeles Lakers are currently looking for a new head coach. As per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin, the Lakers are anticipated to initiate contact with potential players shortly.
ESPN identified NBA player JJ Redick, assistant Chris Quinn of the Miami Heat, and assistant James Borrego of the New Orleans Pelicans as potential candidates.
Redick has been connected to a number of head coaching positions. Before they recruited Boston Celtics assistant Charles Lee, the Charlotte Hornets were mentioned as a potential destination for Redick.
Redick has stated that he would like to be an NBA coach. However, the Lakers might want a candidate with greater coaching background. There’s a rumoured quality that the Lakers are looking for in their next head coach, according to ESPN, but that’s just conjecture.
The ESPN story states, “In (Rob) Pelinka’s) talks with officials across the league, the general manager’s description of an important characteristic for the next coach keeps coming up in the term ‘grinder,’ sources said.”
The Lakers are in an interesting position. They were a play-in team in 2023-24. Los Angeles was ultimately eliminated early in the postseason.
Despite having a subpar regular season, the Lakers made it to the Western Conference Finals in 2022–2023. The Lakers are capable of competing with some of the league’s top teams when they play well. Their consistency is the problem.
Over the previous few years, Los Angeles has had periods where they just don’t seem like a playoff team. At other moments, however, the potential is very apparent.
A player option is available for LeBron James for the 2024–2025 season. Where James winds up this offseason may determine the Lakers’ future as a team.
One has to question if the Lakers will undergo a rebuild if James decides to opt out of his contract and signs elsewhere. Although Anthony Davis is an excellent player, there are uncertainties on Los Angeles’ roster.
The only option left to the Lakers is to try to compete if LeBron decides to stay in or resigns after choosing to go. James intends to compete in his final seasons of play because he will turn 40 in December.
The eventual head coaching choice of the Lakers may depend on James’ future. However, there are other things to think about.
LeBron James reportedly wants to play with his kid Bronny James on the same squad. LeBron might join Bronny if he is selected in the 2024 NBA Draft. Naturally, the Lakers might decide to select Bronny in the draft to try to convince LeBron to stay.
Ultimately, there are a lot of unknowns around this whole scenario. The Lakers need to appoint a head coach who can assist the team in reestablishing continuity, that much is certain. Los Angeles used to seem to be in the running for championships all the time.
The Lakers anticipate victory. A roster is not entirely made or broken by a head coach. But the Lakers will have a chance to move in the correct direction if they hire the finest applicant.
