JJ Redick gets his shot with in-person Lakers interview this weekend
JJ Redick, the presumptive front-runner for the Lakers’ head-coaching job for much of their offseason, will undergo his most formal interview to date in Los Angeles this weekend, according to people with knowledge not authorized to publicly discuss the search.
The timing of the interview, which will come after Game 4 of the NBA Finals, seems to signal the Lakers’ significant interest in the player-turned-media member.
Redick has said publicly that his focus has been on his job broadcasting the Finals.
He’ll be the third candidate through the door for the Lakers, following James Borrego and Dan Hurley. Hurley, the UConn head coach, turned down the Lakers’ six-year, $70-million offer Monday. Borrego is considered a leading candidate for the Cavaliers’ job.
While the Lakers have spoken to other coaches earlier in their offseason, those were more exploratory conversations with candidates such as Denver’s David Adelman and Minnesota’s Micah Nori.
Reddick’s interview this weekend is expected to be with a wider spectrum of team executives beyond general manager Rob Pelinka and team owner Jeanie Buss, the people who met with Hurley last Friday in Los Angeles.
Redick has previously spoken with Pelinka, people with knowledge of the talks have said.
In Redick, the Lakers are hoping to harness the brain power of an information-driven broadcaster and podcaster who also had a successful pro career that spanned 15 seasons.
As a player, Redick was regarded as a hard worker and perfectionist with an eye for efficiency.
In addition to broadcasting the NBA Finals, Redick runs a podcast business that includes one show focused on basketball strategy and nuance co-hosted by LeBron James.
James, however, has attempted to distance himself from this coaching search.
As the Lakers regroup after their rejection by Dan Hurley, there are nothing but questions about what’s next.
Despite having no professional coaching experience, Redick has been a name linked to the Lakers for most of their coaching search after Darvin Ham’s firing.
He was regarded as a heavy favorite until the Lakers went on the offensive with Hurley last week in an attempt to lure him away from the college ranks.
Still, people with knowledge inside the building maintain that the Lakers’ search isn’t limited to just Redick and Borrego and, if necessary, more interviews could be forthcoming.
Externally, Redick is viewed as the primary candidate at this stage.
While having a coach in place by the draft is ideal, it’s not viewed as an absolute necessity by some inside the Lakers’ organization. The team is facing major decisions this summer with its roster, beginning on draft night when the team could combine the No. 17 pick with first- rounders in 2029 and 2031 in a trade.
JJ Redick could be the next Lakers head coach because he has a podcast with LeBron James. Period. End of resume. That’s a joke, right?
Redick’s formalized interview process this weekend, though, could be a pivot point in the search, a moment where things come to a close or whether the process trudges on.
Speaking on “The Dan La Batard Show” on Thursday, Hurley said he was genuinely torn between the Lakers and returning to UConn.
“The sense that this was some conspiracy to get me a sweeter deal at UConn is lazy,” he said.
He said he began seriously considering the Lakers’ opening at the beginning of last week before flying out to Los Angeles with his wife. After returning back home, Hurley said he “flipped” and decided to remain with the two-time defending champions.
Hurley did acknowledge that when it would come to leaving UConn, there are financial components at play. The Lakers’ offer would’ve made him the sixth-highest-paid coach in the NBA, but it fell short of some expectations and rumors that had Hurley in line for a massive offer.
Connecticut coach Dan Hurley spoke publicly for the first time since making a decision he says tore him up inside — turning down the Lakers’ coaching job.
Thursday, Hurley took part in multiple interviews explaining his decision.
In addition to a head coach, the Lakers will need to assemble a coaching staff after dismissing all of Ham’s staff from the previous season.
While the team had held Borrego in high regard and regardless of his position in the Cleveland search, league insiders believe he’s not interested in a secondary position on the Lakers’ staff. Sam Cassell, another coach whom the Lakers have spoken to in this process, will also probably not be available as it’s widely believed he’s in line for a promotion on the Celtics’ bench with Charles Lee leaving to coach in Charlotte.
Other names that have been discussed as potential assistants throughout the coaching search have included former Oklahoma City and Washington head coach Scott Brooks and ex-Lakers guard Rajon Rondo. Still, any of those decisions are contingent on whom the Lakers hire as their head coach.
If the coach ends up being Redick, which some have predicted as far back as the NBA Combine a month ago, the team would look to surround him with experienced assistants.
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