The Lakers have reportedly interviewed JJ Redick for their head coach position. According to Dan Wolke of the LA Times, members of the Lakers organization conducted a formal interview with JJ Redick, who is one the leading candidates to become the next coach of the Lakers.
The report also noted that Redick had conducted several informal conversations with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka since the firing of Darvin Ham last month. However, the report did not give any insight into how the meeting went, and which side the Lakers brass were leaning when it came to the hiring of Redick.
JJ Redick has long been linked to the Lakers head coach position, with many believing that Redick’s close relationship with Lakers star LeBron James, which even led to them starting a podcast together, would play a major role in the hiring of the former Duke sensation.
Redick has stayed quiet about the situation, not saying a word about the potential of being the new head coach. Meanwhile, the Lakers have ramped up their hunt for their new head coach after UConn head coach Dan Hurley rejected the Lakers’ massive $70 million offer, opting to stay with the Huskies and chase a third consecutive NCAA championship.
Redick’s potential hiring has been a lightning rod for conversations in NBA circles. While many players and analysts have shown respect to Redick for his basketball intellect, they have also pointed to his lack of coaching experience of any kind as a major detriment.
For Redick, who has no coaching experience of any kind, to be offered one of the most scrutinized and difficult head coaching jobs in the NBA is something few think is a good idea.
Why Did Dan Hurley Reject The Lakers Job Offer?
Without a doubt, the Lakers would have hired Dan Hurley had he accepted their offer. Hurley spoke recently about the decision-making process behind him rejecting the Lakers. He noted that the prospect of moving to the Lakers moved his wife to tears, even though she did ultimately come around to it. But both he and his wife felt that staying with UConn was the right call.
“She was like crying in the beginning. I think initially, the first couple of days of it, she got wildly angry and emotional. Not like hitting me and stuff… Not like, ‘Get away from me, I don’t want to consider this, you’re torturing me with incredible opportunity, you horrible human being’ (laughs). She got emotional, like, ‘I can’t believe you’re bringing this, our life is so great, it’s perfect… Like our lives couldn’t be better, now you’re bringing this sh*t’.”
“So, she was bad in the beginning, but she warmed up to it when we got out there and she met Rob and Jeanie and felt the weather… Just met the people though, mostly and saw the vision of it. She was into it. But then when we got back to Connecticut, without having made a decision and we got back home and we both flipped back.”
Hurley also hinted at the Lakers possibly changing by giving an improved offer, but at this point, neither side is going to worry too much about what could have been. For the Lakers, their priority must be to secure a new head coach as soon as possible.
With the Lakers completing their first formal interview with Redick, many can expect the wheels to be fully in motion for Redick to become the next head coach of the NBA. The controversial coaching hire could even be formalized as early as this week, if all things go right.
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