The Lakers will intensify their search for a new head coach at this week’s Draft Combine in Chicago, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (video link), who identifies James Borrego and J.J. Redick as “names to watch” in that process.
Borrego currently serves as lead assistant for the Pelicans and helped the team develop a top-10 offense by utilizing Zion Williamson as a point forward, Wojnarowski notes. Borrego was the head coach in Charlotte from 2018-22, compiling a 138-163 record in four seasons. He also went 10-20 as interim coach in Orlando at the end of the 2014/15 season and spent time as an assistant to Gregg Popovich in San Antonio as well.
Redick is a member of ESPN/ABC’s top broadcasting team and has become a prominent media figure since retiring as a player in 2021. Although he doesn’t have any coaching experience, he benefits from a close relationship with Lakers star LeBron James, who serves as his co-host on the “Mind of the Game” podcast.
Lakers officials are expected to begin contacting rival teams this week to request permission to interview their assistant coaches, Woj adds. A report on Saturday identified Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Nuggets assistant David Adelman, Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney, and Heat assistant Chris Quinn as potential candidates, but Nori, Adelman and Sweeney are all still involved with playoff teams.
L.A. will likely conduct a “long search” and interview numerous candidates before hiring its next coach, according to Wojnarowski.
James Borrego? Another coach to be set up for failure.
Every coach is set-up to fail especially this Lakers HC position now. No one now will get them to win the championship. They need a new GM Palinka is walking trash can. That Westbrook deal destroyed this team. Could’ve had Caruso, KCP, Kuzma isntead of DLo now if you really get into it.
Milk Me – oh how easily we forget. Palinka got so much praise for bringing in DLo, Rui, Reeves, Vanderbilt…. Nobody thought he could take that old roster and turn it into a playoff competitor. Yet the went on to make the conference finals. And lost to the eventual champs.
So now a year later, they made the playoffs again, played what as of right now is the favorite to win the chip again Denver Nuggets, and lost. I would love to hear what moves you would have made this past February.
I don’t see JJ Redick as a choice because he is not going to let LeBron run the show. Lakers should just make Lebron the coach since AD just follows Lebron like a lost puppy.
Lebron will be gone anyways. Which would be best for JJ if he starts his coaching career.
JJ the Rich Paul guy who does a podcast with Bron and elevates James statue every chance he gets? Bring in Harden as well LOL.
Borrego is a good option in general, but maybe not so much for the Lakers situation.
Perfect case scenario would be for Jeanie Buss to actually continue the purge and relieve Rob Pelinka of his duties and hire Bob Myers as president of basketball operations and let him make the decisions of head coach, personnel, etc. Actually, best case scenario would be for the team to be sold to a strong ownership group, but that isn’t going to happen.
Of course it would go against what has been happening in Laker land, but major changes are needed and as long as the hierarchy remains the same, this organization will continue to falter. That is why you bring in an experienced executive like Myers to right the ship.
The Lakers have a rabid fan base, great attendance, and make loads of money. That probably means that the changes above are merely a pipe dream. Too much dependence on LeBron’s (and to an extent AD) opinions will keep this team spinning it’s wheels until more definitive changes happen.
I expect the same results from this team no matter who is hired as head coach.
Lakers
Championship expectation, Low salary
Reddick wouldn’t be a good choice. He won’t get the respect of being a coach by Lebron after the years of Lebron playing against him. Nash has a similar issue in Brooklyn. Even Jason Kidd has issues, though his have gotten better now that he has years under his HOF belt.
Lebron and JJ also have a podcast together. Can’t imagine players would give JJ any respect.
I’d love to see LAL (or any other team) take the pedantic Redick off the air. Who knows, maybe in the modern environment he’ll make a good NBA head coach, and have a long career at it. One can hope.
I can’t even imagine how awkward it could get if JJ had to call out LeBron during practice or whenever…
JJ Redick would be great – he and Lebron would do a podcast just an hour after every game.