Roundtable: Lakers eager to know their new Coach.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ search for a new head coach has centered around JJ Redick, who, despite his lack of coaching experience, has emerged as a leading candidate.

Redick, a former NBA player known for his analytical prowess as an ESPN analyst and podcast host, has not coached at any level beyond his children’s youth games since retiring in 2021. His close working relationship with Lakers star LeBron James on their “Mind the Game” podcast has likely influenced his standing in the coaching search.

However, the Lakers’ need for immediate success, given LeBron James’ age and the team’s championship aspirations, raises questions about Redick’s suitability. The opinions of the Lakers Nation Roundtable highlight the debate surrounding his potential appointment.

   Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane):
Lane argues that Redick’s lack of coaching experience makes him an unsuitable choice for a team needing to win immediately. He believes the Lakers cannot afford the growing pains of a rookie head coach and suggests that an experienced assistant like Sam Cassell would be a better fit. Cassell brings years of experience as an assistant coach, which could provide the stability and expertise the Lakers need.

    Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA):
Ward also opposes Redick’s hiring, emphasizing the importance of experience for a franchise with the Lakers’ championship pedigree. He suggests Kenny Atkinson as a preferable candidate, noting Atkinson’s experience as an assistant under Steve Kerr and his potential to bring valuable insights and strategies from his time with the Golden State Warriors.

   Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand):
Starkand offers a dissenting opinion, advocating for Redick based on his deep basketball knowledge, ability to relate to players, and potential buy-in from key stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis. While acknowledging Redick’s lack of experience, Starkand believes his understanding of the modern NBA could make him an effective coach, especially if other top candidates like Tyronn Lue are unavailable.

Ron Gutterman (@RonGutterman24):
Gutterman shares concerns about Redick’s inexperience but suggests that if the Lakers were in a rebuilding phase, Redick could be a suitable candidate. For a veteran-laden team, however, Gutterman prefers coaches like David Adelman of the Denver Nuggets or James Borrego of the New Orleans Pelicans, who combine tactical acumen with the ability to maintain locker room cohesion.

    Matthew Valento (@matthewvalento):
Valento echoes the concerns about Redick’s lack of experience, noting the urgency of the Lakers’ current situation with LeBron James’ limited time frame. He advocates for Nuggets assistant David Adelman, who, despite also lacking head coaching experience, has a proven track record as an assistant with a championship team.

Conclusion
The consensus among the Lakers Nation Roundtable leans towards skepticism about JJ Redick’s readiness for the head coaching role due to his inexperience.

While his basketball intelligence and relationship with LeBron James are significant positives, the immediate need for a seasoned coach to guide the team towards championship contention appears to outweigh these factors.

Candidates like Sam Cassell, Kenny Atkinson, David Adelman, and James Borrego are viewed as more suitable choices to navigate the high-pressure environment and maximize the Lakers’ potential in the short term.