Lakerholics

Listening to LeBron James and JJ Redick rave about how two superstars and a deep and diverse roster of elite roleplayers who are stars in their own roles is the blueprint to win an NBA championship is music to my ears.

Hearing that your 39-year old superstar and 39-year old future head coach are in complete agreement about the best balance between superstars and elite roleplayers when it comes to winning championships is great news.
While the Lakers need to acquire a replacement for LeBron James at some point in time, it’s reassuring that James and Redick are fans of the two-superstars-and-deep-roster model rather than the three-superstars model.

While their front office believes the team underperformed due to injuries and the coaching situation, it’s obvious the Lakers are two or three players away from being able to compete with the four remaining playoff teams.
The Lakers desperately need a legitimate point-of-attack guard who can hound opposing ball handlers, bigger wing who can drain threes and guard scorers, and backup center who can stretch the court and protect the rim.

Realistically, it’s nearly impossible under the current CBA for an NBA team to pay maximum salaries to three superstars and still be able to build a starting lineup and roster deep and diverse enough to win a championship.
While they’ll still chase superstars like Donovan Mitchell and Dejounte Murray, the Lakers would be wiser to use their trade assets for a legit POA guard, bigger 3&D wing, and backup center instead of third superstar.

Here are the five bold and savvy moves the Los Angeles Lakers should make this summer to upgrade their starting lineup, expand defensive depth and diversity, and transform the team from chumps to champs.

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1. Hire JJ Redick

The first bold and savvy move the Lakers need to make this summer to transform themselves from chumps to champs is to shoot for the moon and hire inexperienced 39-year old JJ Redick to be the team’s next head coach.

Frankly, the Lakers have all but officially committed to Redick as their next head coach. It would be hard at this point not to hire JJ after publicly saying they’re looking for a superstar coach and then comparing Redick to Riley.
While Pelinka’s job has up to now been protected by Kobe Bryant’s ghost, Rob knows this will likely be his last attempt as general manager to find a long-term head coach who could recreate the success of Riley and Jackson.

Rob Pelinka knows his future and legacy as GM will depend on whom he chooses to be the Lakers’ next head coach. the Lakers desperately need coaching stability after firing three straight coaches over the last 7 years.
They need a superstar coach, a Steve Kerr or Eric Spoelstra, Pat Riley or Phil Jackson, a generational head coach with a transformational vision that values thinking outside-the box and building a championship culture.

The NBA is in the midst of a major transition of best the stars and teams. Bottom line, the Lakers clearly need to modernize their approach to the game, get bigger, longer, more athletic, and shoot a lot more threes.
The good news is the Lakers know how important it is to find the team’s next Pat Riley or Phil Jackson. They’ve also committed to spend whatever’s necessary to provide JJ Redick with an elite experienced coaching staff.

The Lakers desperately need a smart, young, visionary head coach like JJ Redick who can help recreate the winning identity and culture of the Riley and Jackson reigns and catapult L.A. into another championship dynasty.

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2. Re-Sign D’Angelo Russell

The second bold and savvy move the Lakers should make this offseason to transform themselves into legitimate contenders is re-sign D’Angelo Russell as their starting point guard as he is simply too valuable to lose for nothing.

Even if there were an available replacement, the last thing L.A. needs right now is to add new starting point guard to a list of roster needs that already includes POA defensive guard, big 3&D wing, and stretch backup center.
Frankly, short of trading for Trae Young, there are no reasonable available upgrades for D’Angelo Russell, which means the Lakers need to seriously consider re-signing DLO and strengthening the starting lineup around him.

Next to hiring a new head coach, deciding what to do with D’Angelo Russell is the Lakers second biggest offseason decision. The reality is that DLO was a major reason why the Lakers finished the regular season on a great run.
Russell essentially transformed himself midseason into the high volume, high percentage 3-point shooter that the Lakers have desperately needed the last three years and that’s an asset you can’t let walk away for nothing.

The ideal solution for the Lakers would be for D’Angelo Russell to accept his $18.7 million player option for the coming season and sign a new 3-year contract starting at $20 million per season with a 3rd year player option.
That would give DLO the long-term security he desires while allowing the Lakers to avoid losing him for nothing to free agency. It would also be a smart investment in a talented young player who is still just 28-years old.

The Lakers need to realize how valuable DLO’s volume 3-point shooting and elite playmaking are and that it would be wiser to re-sign him, surround him with better starters, and groom him to become an even better player.

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3. Trade For Marcus Smart

The third bold and savvy offseason move the Lakers need to make is trade for 30-year old shooting guard Marcus Smart to become the point-of-attack perimeter defender and ideal backcourt complement for D’Angelo Russell.

As the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year and a 3-time All-Defensive First Team winner, Marcus Smart would be the perfect point-of-attack alpha dog perimeter defender to pair with offense first point guard D’Angelo Russell.
Smart would give the Lakers the lock-down defender they need to guard the high scoring guards in the West like Devin Booker, Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

An elite point-of-attack guard is one of the Lakers’ greatest needs heading into next season and a critical one if L.A. wants to retain D’Angelo Russell’s high volume, high percentage 3-point shooting and top-flight playmaking.
A backcourt of D’Angelo Russell and Marcus Smart would give the Lakers a dynamic and diverse duo with outstanding size, length, and athleticism who can shoot, defend, rebound, and playmake at a championship level.

The Memphis Grizzlies gave up backup point guard Tyus Jones, recently drafted rookie Marcus Sasser, and a future first round pick to acquire Marcus Smart from the Boston Celtics in a 3-team trade last summer.
Trading for Smart will cost the Lakers valuable draft capital in the form of their unprotected 2029 first round pick, unprotected 2030 first round pick swap, and matching salaries of Vincent, Reddish, and Hood-Schifino.

Marcus Smart would give the Lakers the elite defensive stopper needed to be a legit championship contender and the perfect backcourt mate needed complement and support elite offense-first point guard D’Angelo Russell.

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4. Trade For Jonathan Isaac

The fourth bold and savvy move the Los Angeles Lakers need to make this summer is trading for mercurial 26-year old Magic forward Jonathan Isaac who would become the team’s bigger 3&D forward to guard wing scorers.

At 6′ 10″ and 230 lbs, Jonathan Isaac has the elite physical size, length, and athleticism to play all three front court positions. Ideally, he would start at the three so LeBron James could play the four and Anthony Davis the five.
Like Rui Hachimura, Isaac is an elite offensive player who can stretch the court with his 3-point shooting. Unlike Rui, Jonathan is also an elite shot blocker, rebounder, and individual defender who can guard all 5 positions.

The beauty of the Lakers acquiring Jonathan Isaac is the offensive and defensive versatility he brings to L.A.’s starting lineup. He legitimately has the potential to become the Lakers’ third superstar and replace LeBron.
But trading for Isaac would be a huge gamble since he only played in 11 games in three seasons before getting healthy and playing in 58 games this season. The lure is he’s still only 26 and now appears to be fully healthy.

The Magic have a tough decision to make this summer as Isaac has a non-guaranteed contract for $17.4 million for next season. Considering his horrible injury history, Jonathan’s stint with Orlando could well be over.
Orlando desperately needs 3-point shooters and Los Angeles’ trade offer of Hachimura and their 2031 unprotected first round pick could be enough to motivate the Magic to guarantee Isaac and trade him to the Lakers.

In many ways, Jonathan Isaac is maybe the closest thing to a clone of Anthony Davis the Lakers could find anywhere in the league. He’s the perfect front court complement for LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

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5. Draft Kyle Filipowski

The fifth bold, savvy move the Lakers should make this summer is draft 20-year Kyle Filipowski, who can stretch the floor with his 3-point shooting and protect the rim with his shot blocking, to become their backup center.

After struggling during his freshman year, Filipowski enjoyed a better sophomore year at Duke, averaging an improved 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.2 steals in 30.4 minutes per game.
At 7′ 0″ and 250 lbs, Filipowski is an excellent modern two-way center who can contribute to winning at both ends of the court. What separates Kyle from other college center prospects is his elite 3-point shooting stroke.

With a dramatically improved starting lineup of D’Angelo Russell, Marcus Smart, Jonathan Isaac, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, Kyle Filipowski is the last piece of creating a bench that can backup every starting position.
The Lakers backups would include Austin Reaves at the one, Max Christie at the two, Jarred Vanderbilt at the three, Christian Wood at the four, and Kyle Filipowski at the five. That’s a very deep and diverse 10-man rotation.

The Lakers were smart to use draft capital for a new POA starting guard in Marcus Smart, new starting bigger 3&D wing defender in Jonathan Smart, and new modern backup center in Kyle Filipowski rather than a third star.
Financially, looking to upgrade the starting lineup rather than pursuing a third superstar gives the Lakers far more cap flexibility and options to build a legitimate championship roster than if they opted for three superstars.

Drafting Kyle Filipowski with the #17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft is the Lakers’ best opportunity to find a quality big man who can be a dangerous 3-point shooter and elite rim protector when Anthony Davis rests.

Unless another candidate wows them, the Los Angeles Lakers are hurtling towards hiring J.J. Redick to be the franchise’s next head coach despite his never having coached a basketball team other than his son’s AAU team.

While hiring a head coach who’s never even been an assistant seems like a risky move, it’s not unprecedented and has happened before, in 2014 when the Warriors hired Steve Kerr and in 2020 when the Nets hired Steve Nash.
Part of the Lakers’ infatuation with J.J. Redick is the hope he could become their version of Steve Kerr, a smart, savvy, former clutch player and rising media star who could grow into the team’s next Pat Riley or Phil Jackson.

Of course, the downside of hiring a head coach with zero experience is what happened to the Brooklyn Nets who hired Steve Nash to be their head coach in 2020 despite his never having even been an assistant coach.
Nash was fired by the Nets after three years because he lost the confidence of superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Being one of the greatest point guards ever didn’t translate into Steve Nash being a successful head coach.

Like Magic Johnson and many former superstar players, Steve Nash found coaching in the NBA after a long career as a superstar more challenging for him than for former role players like Steve Kerr and hopefully J.J. Redick.
Kerr was 49 when he got his first head coaching job with the Warriors and Nash was 46 when first hired by the Nets. Redick is 39-years old right now, having retired as a player in 2021 to be a successful analyst and podcaster.

Should Lakers’ hire J.J. Redick as head coach, there are three reasons why his ceiling as a former player with zero coaching experience is Steve Kerr, who won 5 championships, and not Steve Nash, who bombed in Brooklyn.
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Superstar Management

The first reason J.J. Redick’s coaching ceiling should be Steve Kerr and not Steve Nash is his proven ability to earn respect and build strong personal relationships with superstar players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Redick has already shown through his media work on ‘The Old Man and the Three’ podcasts with Tommy Alter and his recent highly acclaimed ‘Mind the Game’ podcasts with LeBron James that he’s a rising media star.
These podcasts have showcased the 39-year old Redick as one of best young basketball minds in the game and catapulted him as the early favorite to be the Lakers’ next great head coach in the mold of Pat Riley and Phil Jackson.

The biggest challenge for rookie coaches is being able to command respect of the players, especially the superstars. It’s obviously easier if the new coach was a former player or had head or assistant coaching experience.
It’s also easier if the superstar you’re going to have to coach happens to be your podcast partner. All J.J. has to do now is win Anthony Davis over to make up for recently leaving him off his list of the 20 best defenders.

Finally, earning respect and developing relationships with superstars is easier for coaches who were role players rather than superstars. Steve Kerr and Steve Nash are good examples of great and poor superstar managers.
Redick was an elite role player like Kerr, whose superstar management led to five championships. Nash was a legitimate superstar who was fired because he lost the trust of superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

J.J. Redick’s podcast partnership with LeBron James is solid evidence that his coaching ceiling, when it comes to dealing with superstar players. will likely be more like the Warriors’ Steve Kerr than the Nets’ Steve Nash.
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Offensive Philosophy

The second reason J.J. Redick’s coaching ceiling is more Steve Kerr than Steve Nash is his commitment to new school offense embracing the 3-point shot and more ball and player movement vs old school isolation basketball.

Like the Warriors’ Steve Kerr, J.J. Redick is a ardent proponent of more organized ball and player movement on offense versus the ball dominant isolation basketball philosophies that ultimately cost Steve Nash his job.
Credit to the Lakers’ ownership and front office for bringing in Coach K to help determine exactly what they need in their next head coach and chart the best possible course to land their next Pat Riley or Phil Jackson.

Strategically, the Lakers face major decisions on the kind of team they want to build just as the league is undergoing a generational changing of the guard with younger teams and players replacing older teams and players.
The Lakers need to decide whether their top priority right now is finding a third superstar to help James and Davis win another championship and replace LeBron when he retires or fill multiple major holes in their roster.

Philosophically, Redick is exactly the kind outside-of-the-box thinker the Lakers need at this critical juncture with their future on the line. The Lakers need to get bigger in the front court and shoot a lot more threes.
The NBA is getting bigger, longer, and more athletic. The Lakers need a visionary head coach who can modernize their offense. The time may have come to abandon drop coverage and build a switch everything roster.

J.J. Redick has the high basketball IQ and modern offensive philosophy more aligned with that of the Warriors’ Steve Kerr than the heavy ball dominant isolation strategies on offense favored by the Nets’ Steve Nash.
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Communication Skills

The third reason J.J. Redick’s coaching ceiling is Steve Kerr not Steve Nash is the formidable communication skills that turned him into a rising media star and will enable him to smartly manage the media and locker room.

One of Redick’s strengths as a head coach will be his his personal ability to communicate with and develop critical relationships with the press corps and players that will determine his success as the Lakers’ next head coach.
Elite communication skills are one of the most important requirements to be a successful NBA head coach. Being able to properly answer questions from the media and players is a critical requirement of every head coach.

Media communication is one the areas of strength of Steve Kerr and one of the weaknesses of Steve Nash and Lakers’ former head coach Darvin Ham, both of whom struggled to answer questions from the media and players.
Being able to handle yourself in press conferences and in conversations with players is critical to developing trust and respect. Like Pat Riley, J.J.’s experience as a podcaster and ESPN analyst should be a big advantage.

Communication skills are essential to the success of NBA head coaches and setting and maintaining reasonable expectations for the team and the press corps builds trust and respect that are core foundations for relationships.
Like Steve Kerr, J.J. Redick clearly understands the intrinsic value of communication in building relationships, which is something that both Steve Nash and Darvin Ham never understood as a critical keys to success.

J.J. Redick has the elite communication skills to become the Lakers’ next great head coach ala Pat Riley and Phil Jackson. Communication skills are why his coaching ceiling is more like Steve Kerr than Steve Nash.

The challenge for the Los Angeles Lakers this summer will be how to add the third superstar, elite perimeter defender, and modern two-way center they need to win a championship without exceeding the second tax apron.

The bad news is the Lakers most likely don’t have enough trading chips to solve all three of their major roster needs this summer, which means they may have to choose between third star, POA guard, and modern center.
The good news is the Bulls may be desperate enough to trade superstar Zach LaVine to the Lakers for just matching salaries, allowing L.A. instead to use their newfound draft capital for a POA guard and modern center

The Bulls salary dumping Zach LaVine could open a door for the Lakers to pull off an stunning blockbuster trade for a third superstar, POA guard, and modern center as starters alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
If the Lakers could trade for Zach LaVine without giving up a pick, they could then use the picks and swaps not used for a third superstar to trade for a POA guard like Alex Caruso and modern center like Jonathan Isaac.

A Lakers’ starting lineup of Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Jonathan Isaac could be the best two-way starting lineup in the league and make the Lakers one of the league’s top teams.
The Lakers would also have a solid bench anchored by three rotation players from last season in Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood, and Max Christie as well as possible rookies like Zach Edey and Bronny James.

While the Los Angeles Lakers still believe they can build a championship caliber team around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they also know the clock is running out and they soon need to find a replacement for James.
The Lakers also know competition is only going to get tougher as the league is in the middle of a generational changing of the guard with the younger and more athletic stars and teams now replacing their older counterparts.

Here’s what a blockbuster trade for a third superstar, POA guard, and modern center to transform Lakers into champions would look like plus the team’s resulting depth chart and cap space and luxury tax status.

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The Blockbuster Trade

The above three-team trade has the Lakers trading six players — Russell (S&T), Lewis, Hachimura, Reaves, Vincent, and Hood-Schifino — for two players from Bulls — LaVine, Caruso — and one player from Magic — Isaac.

Assuming the Bulls are willing to trade LaVine to the Lakers for just matching salary, what’s missing from the above trade is the draft capital L.A. would have to give the Chicago for Caruso and Orlando for Isaac.
Since the Lakers included Reaves in the trade for LaVine, the Bulls should be satisfied with L.A.’s 2029 or 2031 first round draft pick as additional compensation for Alex Caruso. Pick should have at least top-5 protection.

The other key to the Lakers being able to pull off a blockbuster three-team trade to add a third star, POA guard, and modern center is getting D’Angelo Russell to accept his player option so he can be included in the trade.
What the Lakers may need to do is guarantee D’Angelo Russell a new 3-year contract with 3rd year player option for at least $23 million per year via either a sign-and-trade or new contract if actual S&T cannot be negotiated.

The bigger question for the Los Angeles Lakers would be what kind of draft capital would they have to offer the Orlando Magic to motivate them to trade Jonathan Isaac, who’s become an extremely valuable rotation player.
Although only 26-years old, Isaac has essentially missed almost three full seasons due to injury so the Lakers trading for him or the Magic re-signing him to a bigger contract could be a major gamble despite his elite talent.

Ideally, the Lakers’ offer to the Magic should include a sign-and-trade for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and L.A.’s 2029 or 2031 first round pick plus and an additional pick swap but not the Lakers 2024 first round pick.
Assuming the Pelicans will opt to allow the Lakers to keep #17 pick in this draft and instead take their 2025 first round draft pick, L.A. could then use their #17 pick on Zach Edey as backup center and the #55 pick on Bronny.

The Los Angeles Lakers have always been a franchise willing to shoot for the moon and never afraid of thinking big. The Lakers need a third star, POA defensive guard, and modern two-way center to win a championship.

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The Lakers’ Depth Chart

The strength of the Lakers’ new roster is the starting lineup of Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Jonathan Isaac, which boasts three elite defenders and five players who can shoot the three ball.

There was no question that surrounding LeBron James and Anthony Davis with D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura did not provide enough size or defense for the Lakers to compete for a championship.
But replacing Russell and Reaves with Caruso and LaVine and moving James and Davis down a position from power forward and center opens a lineup spot for Isaac to start at center next to AD in a two-bigs lineup.

The Lakers’ new starting lineup of Caruso, LaVine, James, Davis, and Isaac should be a dramatic improvement in offensive firepower and scoring over last season’s starting lineup with LaVine being the main difference maker.
LaVine should thrive as the Lakers’ third superstar, alongside James and Davis and when replacing one of them in the lineup. Ideally, the Lakers should be able to have at least two superstars on the court all the time.

Defensively, the Lakers’ new starting lineup would boast an elite point-of-attack defensive guard in Alex Caruso as well as a second elite switchable defensive big to protect the rim alongside Anthony Davis in Jonathan Isaac.
What’s impressive about the Lakers’ starting lineup is every player defends. There’s no DLO or Reaves or easy mark for teams to target and the lineup has championship size and length with three All-Defensive quality starters.

The Lakers’ reserves provide a diverse mix of versatile skills that can help contribute at both ends of the court and include three valued returnees from last year in Max Christie, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Christian Wood.
Add the players the Lakers select with the #17 and #55 picks in the draft, (for example, center Zach Edey and guard Bronny James) and the Lakers would start free agency with a solid 10-man rotation and five open spots.

By taking on LaVine’s bad contract, the Lakers acquired the third superstar they need without giving up picks, which then allowed them to expand the LaVine trade to use their draft capital instead to acquire Caruso and Isaac.

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The Lakers’ Salary Cap

The above salary cap shows how the Lakers can add a third superstar, POA defensive guard, and modern two-way center and still have a deep and diverse roster without exceeding the dreaded second luxury tax apron.

While the new CBA makes it nearly impossible to build a championship team with three superstars earning more than $40 million per year, it can be done by targeting the right superstar, POA guard, and modern center.
For the Lakers, the key is the Bulls willingness to move LaVine with no draft capital in return, which would enable L.A. to use their available 3 picks and 4 swaps to trade for the POA guard and modern center they need.

Despite the salary cap hit and worrisome injury history, the opportunity to trade for a legitimate superstar like LaVine for just matching salary is hard to resist, especially if you then use the draft capital for Caruso and Isaac. With LeBron turning 40 next season, the Lakers would be smart to find his replacement sooner than later. LaVine would give L.A. the third superstar James wants while still keeping the trading chips for a guard and center.

The trades for Caruso and Isaac were specifically structured to give the Lakers cap space room for the dump of LaVine’s salary. The Lakers most L.A. Afford was Caruso‘’s $9.8 million and Isaac $17.4 million per year.
Were the Lakers to trade for players with combined salaries greater than $27.2 million, they would then exceed the second tax apron, which next season brings draconian financial taxes and non-competitive penalties.

Of course, Alex Caruso as the POA defender could easily be Marcus Smart, or Luguentz Dort, or Herb Jones and Jonathan Isaac as the modern two-way big could be Lauri Markkanen, Alperen Sengun, or Myles Turner.
The key is finding a starting elite point-of-attack defensive guard and a starting modern two-way center with combined salaries not greater than $27.2 million who would perfectly complement James, Davis, and LaVine.

Even if the Lakers decide not to trade for Zach LaVine, they should use their available draft capital to trade for an elite starting POA defensive guard and a starter quality modern two-way center rather than on a third superstar.

The time has come for the Los Angeles Lakers to find a dynamic young head coach with the charisma and vision to become their next Pat Riley or Phil Jackson. Could J.J. Redick be the next head coach the Lakers need?

The Lakers are facing a daunting series of internal franchise-defining decisions while the NBA is in the midst of a generational changing of the guard where newer stars and teams are replacing older stars and teams.
Besides finding a new head coach and coaching staff, the Lakers need to re-sign LeBron James and make major decisions on whether to pursue a third superstar or instead make major upgrades to their current roster.

The last thing the Lakers need to do right now is to hire another retread head coach or long-time assistant coach who does not have the starpower, intelligence, or vision to help the franchise navigate dangerous times.
Instead, the Lakers need to hire a dynamic young head coach with the vision to chart a course for the Lakers that fully embraces how the 3-point shot has transformed the way the modern game of basketball is played.

The Lakers need to focus on finding their next Hall of Fame head coach because the decisions they make this offseason will directly impact their future success and whether the team can remain as a legitimate contender.
They need to replace Darvin Ham with a head coach who not only can handle the basic roster rotation and game management duties required of every coach but also help the front office choose the right players.

The Lakers need a head coach who can replicate the championship success and dynasties Pat Riley and Phil Jackson brought to the purple and gold. Here are four reasons J.J. Redick should be the Lakers’ next head coach.

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Time for Changes

If the Los Angeles Lakers want to hire a new head coach who can become their next Pat Riley or Phil Jackson, they will need to dramatically change the internal process they usually used to choose their next head coach.

In the thirteen years since Phil Jackson, the Lakers have had six different head coaches. During that span, the Lakers only won 2020 championship in the bubble under Frank Vogel but subsequently fired him just a year later.
The Lakers need to admit the process they’ve been using to find new head coaches has not worked and it’s time to stop relying solely on just their internal network and candidates with previous connections to the Lakers.

Another part of the Lakers head coach searches is they’ve not been willing to pay the eight figures elite NBA head coaches earn. That’s why they could not close the deal to hire Ty Lue and ended up settling for Frank Vogel.
The Lakers now realize that was a mistake and are willing to pay market value for their next head coach. They clearly understand they need to pay whatever it costs to get a coach who can lead them to a championship.

Heading into the most critical offseason in the franchise’s history, the Lakers desperately need to find their head coach of the future. Coaching continuity is just as important to a team’s success as player continuity.
Nor do the Lakers need to limit their search to experienced head coaches. Darvin Ham didn’t lose his job because he was a rookie coach. He lost his job because of his inability to handle basic roster and game management.

In the end, the time has come for changes in what the Lakers are looking for in a new head coach. These are challenging times and L.A. desperately needs to find their next great head coach ala Pat Riley or Phil Jackson.

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Opportunity Knocks

Timing is everything when replacing head coaches as the options can be limited but opportunity is knocking loudly on the Lakers’ doors right now as L.A. contemplates J.J. Redick as their next Pat Riley or Phil Jackson.

The Los Angeles Lakers can thank the basketball gods for perfectly timing the dramatic downfall of Darvin Ham with the surprising rise of J.J. Redick as everybody’s pick to become the league’s next great young head coach.
Fortuitously, two of the Lakers options for an experienced NBA head coach in Ty Lue and Jason Kidd appear to be more interested in signing new extensions to stay with the Clippers and Mavericks than joining the Lakers.

One of the Lakers’ top priorities is to find a new head coach who would support the team adding a new starting center and moving Anthony Davis back to the four and playing two-big lineups like Minnesota and Denver.
That’s why the Lakers are also interested in Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori and Nuggets assistant coach David Adelman as possible head coaches who would be excellent fits as Los Angeles’ next head coach.

While Nori and Adleman are excellent assistants, neither has the personal charisma or starpower of Redick, whose brilliant BBIQ has been showcased with his work for ESPN and his ‘Mind the Game’ podcasts with LeBron.
Ideally, Nori and Adleman would be great prospects to be assistants under J.J. Redick. Because Redick would be another rookie head coach, the Lakers would be wise to also recruit an experienced head coach as lead assistant.

The Lakers need to answer when opportunity knocks and bring J.J. Redick in for an interview. The Lakers need a permanent long-term solution at coach and J.J. Redick could be the L.A.’s next Pat Riley or Phil Jackson.

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The Modern Game

The main reason why the Los Angeles Lakers should to hire J.J. Redick as their next head coach is he would become the driving force leading the franchise to finally embrace the 3-point shot and the modern game.

The Lakers did make progress in their 3-point game by finishing the season shooting 37.7% from deep, which was the 8th best in the league and the 3rd best in franchise history versus 37.8% in 2007–08 and 38.1% in 2013–14.
Unfortunately, 3-point shooting success in today’s NBA requires volume 3-point shots. Last season, the Lakers only attempted only 31.3 threes per game, 28th in the league, and made only 11.8 threes, 24th in the league.

The single biggest area where J.J. Redick could impact the Lakers is by fully embracing how the 3-point shot has revolutionized how the game is played. Shoot 40–50 threes per game on offense. Switch everything on defense.
Strategically, nothing could better complement and unleash the individual games of LeBron James and Anthony Davis than the Lakers revamping their offensive strategy to dramatically take and make more 3-point shots.

The second strategy the Lakers need to adopt is to embrace what the Nuggets, Celtics, and Timberwolves have done and commit to a modern two-way center to start alongside AD in a bully-ball two-bigs lineup.
That means the Lakers utilizing the three first round picks and four pick swaps in their current portfolio of a trading chips to acquire a second big who can stretch the court offensively as well as protect the rim defensively.

The Lakers need to focus on optimizing Anthony Davis, who increasingly will replace LeBron James as the face of the franchise. Redick is probably the Lakers’ best head coaching candidate to embrace the modern game.

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LeBron’s Approval

Combining the all-world superstar skills and ‘coach-on-the-court’ BBIQ of LeBron James with the savvy roster building and game management of the elite NBA head coaches like Eric Spoelstra or Ty Lue wins championships.

The Los Angeles Lakers have a unique opportunity to hire a head coach candidate whom we know LeBron James respects and appreciates in J.J. Redick, the King’s online partner for their ‘Mind the Game’ podcasts.
Needless to say, hiring J.J. Redick would likely guarantee that the Lakers’ ‘coach-on-the-court’ and ‘coach-on-the-bench’ would always be on the same page and thinking as one, which was clearly not the case this season.

While LeBron has been accused by critical media of being a serial coach killer, the truth is James wants to be coached and demands the same level of performance and accountability from his coaches as his teammates.
James won championships playing for Spoelstra, Lue, and Vogel. He didn’t win championships playing for Blatt, Walton, or Ham. Hiring J.J. Redick could be the key to LeBron James winning his 5th NBA championship.

The difference between LeBron James and a great coach and LeBron James and a bad coach is the difference between a championship and first round exit. For too long, the Lakers have acted like the coach doesn’t matter.
Teams can pay head coaches whatever they want. There are no limits like for players. The Los Angeles Lakers have an opportunity to sign a brilliant LeBron-approved basketball mind in J.J. Redick as their next head coach.

The Lakers are hoping to lock LeBron James up for three more seasons. Hiring J.J. Redick to be their next head coach would help ensure that LeBron’s last few seasons would end more successfully than Kobe’s.

The Los Angeles Lakers are at a major franchise crossroads. Their top priority this summer should be to acquire a championship caliber modern two-way center to start alongside Anthony Davis in a two-bigs lineup.

The one thing last season and this season should have made perfectly clear is the Lakers need to get bigger and more physical not only to be their best version of themselves but also to match up better against bigger teams.
It’s no secret the Lakers with James and Davis dominate smaller teams with their size and physicality but struggle against bigger teams with low-gravity centers like Jokic and Sabonis who match up well against Anthony Davis.

If there is one consistent criticism of the Lakers’ front office the past three years, it’s their failure to pair Anthony Davis with a championship quality modern starting center to better defend and bang with Jokic and Sabonis.
The Lakers’ failure to pay more than minimum salary for a second big to play alongside Anthony Davis the past three years was further exacerbated by their failure to even land a backup to replace AD when on the bench.

Smart NBA front offices build rosters to beat the teams they know they have to go through. For the Lakers, that obstacle is the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic. The Lakers need to pair AD with a modern two-way center.
Trading for a third superstar like Trae Young won’t solve the Lakers’ need for a second big and they won’t have draft capital or matching contracts left to trade for one, leaving them stuck again with minimum-salary centers.

The Lakers need to figure out what they really need to beat the few teams against whom they do not match up well. The answer is obviously a second starting big who can complement and unleash AD on offense and defense.
While reports have them targeting guards to be their third star, the Lakers would be smart to target dynamic young big men with legitimate upside and potential that could elevate the team to legit championship status.

The time has finally come for the Lakers to prioritize going big and trade for a modern championship quality starting center. Here are four centers L.A. could pair with Anthony Davis to transform the Lakers into champs.

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#1 – Utah Jazz’ Lauri Markkanen

MARKKANEN: 7′ 0″, 240 lbs, 26-yrs, PF 54%/CE 44%, $18.4M for 1-yr
23.2/8.2/2.0/0.5/0.9 on 16.2/8.0/5.0 shots for 48.0/39.9/89.9%

The Los Angeles Lakers’ top choice to be their new starting center is Lauri Markkanen, whose age, salary, and elite size, athleticism, and volume 3-point shooting project him as the perfect second big to play alongside AD.

Markkanen has legitimate superstar ability to complement and unleash Lakers’ superstar Davis at both ends of the court. Defensively, he can guard the bigger wide-body centers like Jokic and Sabonis who give AD trouble.
Offensively, he has the elite 3-point gravity that attracts opposing team’s best defenders like a magnet and all but guarantees Davis the space and driving lanes he needs to unleash the best superstar version of himself.

Markkanen will be entering the last year of his Utah contract this summer, meaning the Jazz need to sign him to a long-term extension or trade him for another player and multiple draft picks before he becomes a free agent.
While Utah’s tough second half of the season has given them a harsh dose of reality, the Lakers will still need to present the Jazz with an offer they cannot refuse if they hope to convince them to trade Lauri Markkanen.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ best offer for the Jazz’ Lauri Markkanen would be a package of Rui Hachimura and Jalen Hood-Schifino to match salaries, three protected Lakers’ first round picks, and three first round pick swaps.
Because the draft capital they would have to give up would be substantial, the Lakers would also have to negotiate an extension with Markkanen to insure he would be locked up long-term as Anthony Davis’ co-superstar.

Unlike the other three center prospects the Lakers should consider as future front court partners for Anthony Davis, Lauri Markkanen is the only candidate who legitimately has the potential to become a real superstar.
Additionally, Markkanen is the best volume 3-point shooter among the four centers the Lakers should consider. He’s shooting 39.9% on 8.0 3-point shots per game. Lauri would replace Rui in the Lakers’ starting lineup.

Lauri Markkanen should be the Lakers’ top candidate to be their center of the future next to Davis and James because he has the greatest potential to become a legitimate superstar and is best volume 3-point shooting center.

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#2 – Indiana Pacers’ Myles Turner

TURNER: 6′ 11″, 250 lbs, 28-yrs old, CE 100%, $20.0M for 1-yr
16.9/6.9/1.3/1.8/0.5 on 11.9/4.2/4.1 shots for 51.7/34.9/77.5%

Pacers center Myles Turner should be the Los Angeles Lakers’ second choice to be their new starting center as his proven ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim make him an ideal second big to play with AD.

A proven elite modern center who can stretch the floor and protect the rim, Turner would be a great fit alongside Anthony Davis to immediately give the Lakers a dynamic two-bigs lineup that could dominate both ends.
While he’s not the 3-point shooter Lauri Markkanen is, Myles Turner has enough 3-point shooting prowess offensively to stretch the floor and is one of the best overall shot blockers and defensive centers in the entire league.

Turner will be on the last year of his 2-year extension this summer and will earn $20.0 million. While only 28, Myles’ timeline is not an ideal match for the younger Pacers’ roster. The time may have finally come to trade him.
The Lakers have long coveted Myles Turner as the perfect front court partner for Anthony Davis in a two-bigs lineup but have been hesitant to trade valuable draft capital for a player who is not ‘per se’ a superstar.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ best offer for Pacers’ center Myles Turner would be a package that included Rui Hachimura and Jalen Hood-Schifino to match salaries plus two protected first round picks and two pick swaps.
Like with Markkanen, the Lakers would need to sign Turner to a long-term extension since they would be giving up essentially four first round picks to trade for him. Turner would replace Hachimura in the starting lineup.

What sets Turner apart from the other four Lakers’ starting center candidates is his proven experience and track record as a starting NBA center and history as one of the best shot blockers in the entire league.
While Markkanen has superstar upside offensively, Turner has true star potential defensively because of his elite rim protection and unique ability to defend smaller, quicker guards and wings when switched onto them.

Myles Turner should be the Lakers’ second choice to be their center of the future next to Davis and James because of his elite ability to protect the rim and real DPOY potential as well as proven ability to create spacing.

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#3 – Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun

SENGUN: 6′ 11″, 243 lbs, 21-yrs, CE 100%, $5.2M for 2-yrs
21.1/9.3/5.0/0.7/1.2 on 15.6/1.8/5.6 shots for 53.7/29.7/69.3%

The Los Angeles Lakers’ third option to be their new starting center is the Rockets 21-year old center Alperen Sengun, who has the size, demeanor, and skill sets to develop into one of the best offensive centers in the league.

Already an All-Star at 21, Sengun has everything a prospect needs to develop into an elite modern two-way NBA center. His footwork and array of shots at the rim remind observers of a younger, more athletic Jokic.
Surrounded by a deep and talented young roster, Alperen has shown he is going to be a major force at center going forward. He’s still young and at times immature but there’s no question he has superstar potential.

But since Sengun injured an ankle against the Kings on March 10th, the Rockets have been on a red hot tear, winning 9 straight before losing to the Mavericks, and closing to within 2 losses of the 10th place Warriors.
Led by the emergence of Jalen Green as a superstar and a deep, talented young roster, the Rockets are thriving with the wide-open offense they’re able to play without the low post center Sengun clogging up the paint.

The result has led to conversations whether Green and Sengun could be the Rockets future superstar duo and whether their respective games fit well and complement each other or whether one of them should be traded.
Earlier in the season, the Rockets appeared to be willing to trade Green and his name had been mentioned in numerous trade rumors. Surprisingly, the recent Houston hot streak has led to rumors that Sengun could be moved.

Just like with Markkanen and Turner, the Lakers would have to give the Rockets an offer they could not refuse to get them to trade Alperen Sengun. In other words, L.A. would need to offer Houston significant draft capital.
A package of Max Christie to match salaries, two first round picks, and two first round swaps could be enough to motivate the Rockets to trade Sengun, especially if Houston looks to accumulate draft capital for a mega move.

Alperen Sengun should be the Lakers’ third option as their new starting center. While he is still young and raw, there’s no question Sengun has the raw talent to become a superstar two-way center for L.A. going forward.

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#4 – Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac

ISAAC: 6′ 10″, 230 lbs, 26-yrs, PF 87%/SF 13%, $17.4M for 1-yr
6.9/4.4/0.9/1.2/0.7 on 4.9/1.9/1.5 shots for 52.2/39.6/72.0%

Orlando Magic power forward Jonathan Isaac should be the Los Angeles Lakers’ fourth option as their future starting center now that he’s finally recovered from the knee injuries that cost him three of the last five years.

With his injury history hopefully at last behind him, Jonathan has worked hard and earned a place in the Magic’s dramatically improved rotation, making contributions at both ends averaging just 15.4 minutes per game.
After missing all of 2020–21 and 2021–22 and all but 11 games in 2022–23, Isaac has played in 52 of Orlando’s 75 games, shooting 52.2% from field, 39.2% from deep, and 72.7% from line, averaging 1.2 blocks and 0.7 steals.

While Jonathan Isaac’s rough injury history makes it hard to give up serious draft capital for him, his unique sets of two-way skills make him a very tantalizing prospect. Isaac has superstar potential at both ends of the court.
Offensively, his ability to stretch the floor and attack the paint make Isaac the ideal front court mate to pair with Anthony Davis in a two-bigs lineup. Defensively, Jonathan would give the Lakers a second elite defensive star.

Jonathan Isaac has 1-year left on his Orlando contract and while he has been playing well, there are still long-time concerns over his knee and his path to a starting role is blocked by Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter, Jr..
The timing may be right for the Magic to now trade Jonathan Isaac for veteran rotation depth and draft picks. Lakers could offer Rui Hachimura to match salaries, a protected first round pick, and a first round pick swap.

Like with the other starting center candidates, the Lakers are essentially trading elite draft capital in the form of picks and swaps for younger bigs with upside who would fit well as starting centers next to Anthony Davis.
Since Isaac has such a negative injury history and is not even a starter or playing staring minutes, the Lakers’ best offer does not include as many picks and/or swaps as their offers for the other starting center prospects.

Jonathan Isaac should be the Lakers’ fourth starting center candidate despite his injury history and lack of a starting role because he’s the best defender among the candidates and, if healthy, could be a superstar.