JJ Redick and the Lakers’ Offseason Decisions

Seven NBA Observations on Draft Buzz, JJ Redick, and Trade Season https://t.co/ou9MZRtA0Q

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 24, 2024

I am a believer in JJ Redick’s potential as a head coach. There are few people I’ve met who are as meticulous as he is in his attention to detail. He is an obsessive worker. And he is fueled by competition, which is why he left a cozy media job for the pressure of coaching the Los Angeles Lakers. But no matter how much X’s-and-O’s intelligence he displays hosting a podcast or broadcasting a game, being a good coach is about implementing it all on the fly, incorporating lineups and adjustments all while managing egos and developing players.

We got an idea of Redick’s vision, according to The Athletic:

Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the meeting described Redick as “impressive” during his visit to Los Angeles. … He explained his decision-making process when it comes to strategy, how the analysis and empirical evidence would always guide his choices rather than preconceived notions or outdated beliefs. Redick described a system molded around this roster, focusing on elevating Anthony Davis’s involvement, particularly late in games, and alleviating the constant ballhandling duties on James by utilizing him more off the ball. Keeping James, who turns 40 in December, fresh down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs will be critical.

Keeping LeBron fresh means investing more in Austin Reaves than Darvin Ham was willing to. And it’ll be on Rob Pelinka to find someone better than D’Angelo Russell to play point guard. Shams Charania said on The Pat McAfee Show that the Lakers remain interested in Hawks point guard Dejounte Murray, whose two-way abilities could make him an ideal fit next to James and Reaves. But as Charania noted, it’s unclear whether the Hawks will trade Murray or Trae Young this summer, and their choice will be dependent on which player brings back greater value.

If Murray is L.A.’s target, then it’d be easier to match salaries in a trade for him before his contract extension kicks in on July 1. And if the Lakers are looking for a center to allow AD to play power forward more frequently, then perhaps there’s a deal to be done for both Murray and Clint Capela, who is being shopped around by the Hawks, according to league sources. Murray would help the backcourt. Capela would help the defense. Would Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Russell plus picks get it done? There are no guarantees that it will work out for Redick as a head coach. But to increase the chances that it will, the pressure is on Pelinka and the Lakers front office to make appropriate changes.