The saga around the Lakers head coaching vacancy is finally over, as JJ Redick was announced as the team’s new head coach on a four-year deal. Franchise legend and five-time champion Magic Johnson has weighed in on Redick’s hiring, saying that he is cautiously optimistic about what’s to come.
“I’m cautiously optimistic that this new hire is a success for both the Lakers and JJ Reddick. I enjoyed watching him as a player – great 3-point shooting, high basketball IQ, passion for the game, and mental and physical toughness. If he can bring how he played professionally to the Lakers – this could work out! But will his transition from star basketball player to head coach end up like Steve Kerr, Jason Kidd, Ty Lue, or Doc Rivers or the former NBA players turned coaches who weren’t successful?’
Magic made sure that the front office doesn’t rest after announcing Redick as coach, encouraging Rob Pelinka to improve the roster to try and catch up to a competitive Western Conference.
“Naming a head coach was just the first step. Even bigger than naming JJ Reddick as the Head Coach, Rob Pelinka’s next step must be to improve the roster if we are going to compete against all the powerhouse teams in the West like the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Mavericks, Suns, Thunder, Spurs, and the Clippers.”
Redick is entering the NBA as a complete novice head coach. He hasn’t coached at any competitive level before but has shown his knowledge of the game through his various podcasts and appearances on ESPN. That usually wouldn’t be enough to back someone to be the head coach of the Lakers, but it’s clear the Lakers are making a long-term bet with Redick as their coach.
Lakers Think Redick Could Be The Next Pat Riley
At the nascent stages of the Lakers head coaching search, Shams Charania had reported that the Lakers view Redick as someone with the potential to become the next Pat Riley. The same belief has been reinforced internally upon Redick’s hiring, with comparisons also being drawn to Steve Kerr and Erik Spoelstra.
“He’s drawn internal comparisons to a young Pat Riley as a coaching prospect who jumped from playing to the broadcast booth to the coaching chair (though Riley spent two years as a Lakers assistant before taking the top job). Los Angeles is confident he can be its version of Erik Spoelstra or Steve Kerr — a culture-setter who can grow with the franchise for over a decade.”
There is no value in hiring Redick if the Lakers are going to be impatient with his development in the role. Unfortunately, impatience is bound to be present if the team employs LeBron James and Anthony Davis, two stars in their 30s who won’t be around to grow with Redick over the next five years.
James is a free agent this summer, as he is expected to decline his player option and hit the market. He made it clear to the team that they needed to make a decision without him in mind due to his age, and it seems the franchise heeded that request. Now, he’ll play a crucial role in ensuring Redick has support in that locker room and is set up for a bright career as an NBA head coach.
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