CHICAGO – JJ Redick, James Borrego and Sam Cassel have emerged as the franchise’s top targets as the Los Angeles Lakers begin contacting head coaching candidates and scheduling interviews this week, league sources said. The athletics.
The franchise’s next coach will be tasked with leading both the end of the LeBron James–Anthony Davis era — a likely two-year window — and the subsequent Davis-led Lakers basketball era. Los Angeles is looking for a coach to develop the franchise for years to come, according to team and league sources, putting a premium on Davis’ greatness, current returning players and a high-level player development component.
As one source summarized the situation, “This should be more about AD than LeBron’s hiring.
The Lakers will hold first-round coaching interviews with candidates who have not previously vetted them, allowing team officials to get to know those individuals on a human level before moving on to the next draft, league sources said.
The Lakers want a coach who can command the locker room and hold players accountable, as well as provide a relentless game plan and level of organization and organization, sources said.
Several sources briefed on the matter say a respected unofficial source for the Lakers during the process is legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has deep knowledge of candidates like Redick and others. The organization needs and characteristics of a capable employee around the next head coach. Krzyzewski’s history with the Lakers dates back to 2004 when Dr. Jerry Buss made a strong but unsuccessful offer to hire Coach Kane.
as a The athletics After firing head coach Darwin Hamm, the Lakers’ first candidates were LA Clippers coach Tyronn Lue (whose contract expires next season), Redick, Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson, Mike Budenholzer (who recently replaced Frank Vogel as head coach of the Phoenix Suns) and a former Boston Celtics assistant. Coach Charles Lee (who recently became the head coach Charlotte Hornets).
Since then, Redick, a 39-year-old ESPN analyst and 15-year NBA veteran; Borrego, the 46-year-old New Orleans Pelicans associate coach who previously coached the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets; And Cassel, a 54-year-old Boston Celtics assistant coach after a 15-year NBA career, became the Lakers’ first targets.
Denver Nuggets assistant coach David Adelman, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Norrie and Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn are among the other candidates, according to league and team sources.
Redick has yet to coach above the youth level, making him the biggest unknown among coaching candidates. He’s more forward-looking than the competition, with his run as a media personality chronicling his highly-acclaimed playing career and his recent “Mind of Mind” podcast with James.
Despite his lack of coaching experience at the NBA level, he is considered one of the top prospects on the market, and has made it clear both publicly and privately that he has a strong desire to make the jump to head coaching. Redick interviewed for the Hornets’ head coaching job and interviewed for the Toronto Raptors’ opening last season.
Borrego, New Orleans’ associate head coach under Willie Green, has been one of the driving forces behind the Pelicans’ offensive overhaul in 2022-23, which ranked 11th in points per 100 possessions last season. Borrego led the Hornets to 43 wins in their final season in 2021-22 (still their best as an organization since the 2015-16 season). He is 148-183 (.447) in four-plus seasons as the head coach in Charlotte and a 30-game stint as the Magic’s interim coach.
Cassell, who joined the Celtics staff last season, coached under Flip Saunders, Randy Wittman, Doc Rivers and Joe Mazzula. He is one of Rivers’ leading assists in nine of his 15 coaching seasons. Cassell is respected by players and has a strong reputation for player development. He won three championships as a player (1994 and 1995 in Houston, 2008 in Boston).
as a The athletics According to reports after the Lakers’ Game 5 loss to the Nuggets, James is expected to play up to two more NBA seasons, according to a source about his thinking. This means this could be James’ last coach in the event that he re-signs with the Lakers.
Los Angeles is open to discussing any deal framework for James to return, and could draft Brony James in next month’s NBA draft, team sources said. Brony James intends to stay in the draft, participating in all of the pre-draft activities that begin this week in Chicago and the agency’s Pro Days combine in Los Angeles next week before narrowing down the list of interested teams to a handful.
(Top photo: Tyler Ross/NBA via Getty Images)