Lakers formally interview JJ Redick for head coaching job

Podcaster and ESPN analyst JJ Redick had formal interviews with several members of the Lakers’ organization on Saturday. (Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)

The Lakers hosted former player and current broadcaster JJ Redick on Saturday in their most formal interview with him to date, with multiple members of the organization speaking to the former Duke star about the team’s head-coaching vacancy.

The step is an important one for Redick, who has been a central figure in the team’s coaching search as an external favorite, a presumed frontrunner after initial contact at the NBA draft combine and now as potentially the final candidate to meet with executive vice president and general manager Rob Pelinka, owner Jeanie Buss and other key Lakers figures.

While some inside the organization have said the team doesn’t necessarily need to hire a coach before the NBA draft on June 26-27, there are major decisions that need to be made regarding the roster, including the possibility of trading up to three first-round picks (No. 17 this year and unprotected firsts in 2029 and 2031) on draft night.

The Lakers previously hosted New Orleans assistant coach James Borrego and Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley. The team offered Hurley the job, but he turned down a six-year, $70-million deal to stay with the Huskies.

The search for Darvin Ham’s replacement has stretched over a month with Pelinka conducting the process first through a series of informal conversations. In addition to Borrego, Hurley and Redick, the team also spoke with a pool of other candidates, including Boston assistant Sam Cassell, Denver assistant David Adelman and Minnesota assistant Micah Nori.

Redick, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, has had multiple conversations with Pelinka since Ham’s firing.

Read more: Steve Kerr and Doc Rivers talk about what JJ Redick might face if he coaches Lakers

Since the earliest stages of the search, though, Redick was considered a candidate by outside observers. He was briefly linked to the opening in Charlotte before moving to the foreground in the Lakers’ search.

Despite…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lakers-formally-interview-jj-redick-012617635.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-06-16 01:26:17

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