Retired sharpshooter turned analyst JJ Redick is reportedly the frontrunner for the Lakers’ head coach spot, according to TNT’s Chris Haynes.
“I will be very surprised if their next head coach is anybody but JJ Redick,” Haynes said on the Dan Patrick Show. “Everything that I’m hearing is JJ Redick. From what I know, he’s doing some background, calling some assistant coaching candidates who might be able to join his staff.”
The closing part of Haynes’ statement raised eyebrows, as it suggests Redick is very close to being hired. Which assistant coaches could end up on Redick’s staff in Los Angeles? Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times released a list of potential assistant coaches that Redick is targeting.
“Rumors of the Lakers’ staffing plans have run throughout the league during the past two weeks, with some names most commonly mentioned including former head coach Scott Brooks and assistants Sam Cassell and Jared Dudley,” Woike wrote. “Ex-Lakers guard Rajon Rondo has also been under consideration, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly.”Since Redick would be a first-time coach, Brooks, Cassell and Dudley make sense given their experience.
However, the most interesting name is Rondo, who previously played for the Lakers and helped them win a championship in 2020.
