JJ Redick ‘agrees to become Lakers coach’: LeBron James’ podcast co-host ‘plans to sign four-year deal after LA failed to lure Dan Hurley from UConn with $70 million offer’

JJ Redick is said to have agreed to take on the role of the next head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Reportedly inking a four-year contract, the former Clippers standout is set to assume the position, as per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Speculation about Redick being in the running for the job arose following the dismissal of coach Darvin Ham by Lakers GM Rob Pelinka after LA’s elimination in the first round of the playoffs. The 39-year-old has been serving as one of ESPN’s primary NBA analysts and co-hosts a podcast with Lakers star LeBron James.

While the Lakers attempted to entice Dan Hurley away from his coaching position at Connecticut, the reigning NCAA champion coach turned down the team’s rumored $70millionproposal.AccordingtoTheAthletic,Redickisexpectedtocommandanannualsalaryof$8 million with the Lakers.

At the time of the report, representatives from the Lakers had not immediately responded to request for verification.

Shams Charania of The Athletic had previously stated that Redick was seen as the frontrunner for the Lakers role, despite lacking experience.

Following interviews with Charlotte Hornets assistant James Borrego, Boston Celtics assistant Sam Cassell, and Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman, Redick recently underwent an interview for the Lakers position, ESPN reported.

His connection to James, with whom he co-hosts the ‘Mind the Game’ podcast, seemed to enhance his chances for the job, although Charania mentioned that the four-time MVP was not involved in the hiring process.

Certainly, there’s some uncertainty surrounding James’ future in LA. He’s currently under contract, but holds a player option for the 2024-25 season, granting him the possibility to become a free agent this summer.

James has also shown interest in playing alongside his son, Bronny, who is expected to be drafted next week and is likely to be picked in the second round. Bronny, a former USC guard, has had tryouts with both the Lakers and the Suns.

While Redick’s coaching experience in the NBA is relatively limited, it doesn’t necessarily mean bad news for Lakers fans. Take Steve Kerr for example, who had no prior NBA coaching experience before leading the Golden State Warriors to the championship in 2015.

Similar to Kerr, Redick gained recognition in the NBA as an exceptional shooter and fierce competitor before transitioning into a broadcasting role.

In fact, the renowned Lakers coach Pat Riley also worked as a broadcaster before being hired as an assistant coach in 1979, eventually taking over the head coaching position and leading the team to four NBA championships.

According to ESPN, Pelinka is drawn to Redick for his ability to build close relationships with players and his high basketball intelligence.

Redick is anticipated to form a coaching team that prioritizes the development of younger players like Max Christie and Austin Reaves.

Furthermore, it’s expected that Redick will tailor his offensive and defensive strategies around Anthony Davis, the often-injured center who has consistently expressed a preference for playing as a power forward.