The Los Angeles Lakers coaching search is still ongoing even with multiple teams having already filled their vacancies. While it’s still unclear who will be the next Lakers coach, NBA rumors have surfaced on the potential Lakers coaching staff that might be assembled if JJ Redick is hired.
Redick, who turns 40 in June, is well-regarded around the basketball world for his attention to detail and his basketball IQ. However, despite being one of the top Lakers coaching candidates, he doesn’t have any coaching experience at the professional level.
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While Redick interviewed with the Toronto Raptors for their head-coaching vacancy in 2023 and has been highly sought-after by teams, there’s immense risk in hiring a head coach without experience. That’s why Los Angeles already seems to be thinking heavily about the staff it would build around him.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein several prominent NBA assistants have emerged as potential candidates to be part of the Lakers coaching staff under Redick.
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Interestingly, two of the names have already been linked to the Lakers coaching search as in completion for the top job. Boston Celtics assistant Sam Cassell and New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego are both viewed as potential options to join the Lakers coaching staff to provide experience for Redick to lean on.
Borrego, age 46, has been coaching in the NBA since 2003 when he joined the San Antonio Spurs (2003-’10, ’15-’18) and he had stints with New Orleans (2010-’12, ’23-present), Orlando Magic (2012-’15) before a stint as the Charlotte Hornets coach from 2018-’22.
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Cassell, age 54, retired from the NBA in 2009 and immediately joined the Washington Wizards (2009-’14) as an assistant coach then had stints with the Los Angeles Clippers (2014-’20) and Philadelphia 76ers (2020-’23) before joining the Celtics last season.
Stein also names Dallas Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley, who was a teammate with Redick on the Los Angeles Clippers, as a potential option for the Lakers coaching staff if Redick is hired.
There are instances in the NFL of teams bringing in coaching candidates for interviews and hiring one of them as head coach and another as a top assistant. If the Lakers intend to hire Redick, it makes sense to target very experienced assistants and see if they would be willing to join Los Angeles as highly-paid mentors to Redick.
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