After guiding the Los Angeles Lakers to two playoff appearances, including a Western Conference Finals berth, in his two-year tenure, Darvin Ham was unexpectedly let go by L.A.’s general manager/team president Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss this spring. Despite achieving a respectable 90-74 regular season record during his time in charge, Ham’s departure signals Pelinka’s pursuit of his fourth head coach since taking on a pivotal role in the Lakers’ front office, and his third selection since fully taking over from Magic Johnson in 2019.
During a recent segment on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” Shams Charania from FanDuel TV disclosed some notable names under consideration by Pelinka and Buss for the coaching position.
Charania stated, “I anticipate the Lakers will intensify their head coaching search in the coming weeks. Names like Kenny Atkinson, JJ Redick, and even David Adelman and James Borrego, both serving as assistant coaches, are being considered. They plan to cast a wide net and conduct interviews with numerous candidates.”
Regarding the potential roster for the 2024-25 season, Charania suggested that LeBron James, the veteran All-NBA forward, is likely to remain with the team. James, the league’s oldest player at 39, holds a $51.4 million player option for the upcoming year, with a decision deadline of June 29th.
Charania noted, “The Lakers are approaching it with the intention of having LeBron James and Anthony Davis as cornerstones for next season. LeBron has until June 29 to decide on his option and will also consider the team’s moves before making a decision.”
In the previous season, the Lakers finished with a 47-35 record, clinching the Western Conference’s seventh seed after winning their play-in game against the New Orleans Pelicans. However, they were swiftly eliminated in five games by the Denver Nuggets, the defending champions, in the first round.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski suggested that there’s significant interest in JJ Redick, James’ co-host on the “Mind The Game” podcast, as a potential candidate for the coaching position.
Wojnarowski stated, “While in Chicago for the league’s combine, the Lakers will begin seeking permission to speak with coaches from across the league. One name they’ve been focusing on is JJ Redick, our colleague at ESPN. He’s someone the Lakers find intriguing… However, expect their search to be extensive and inclusive.”
Redick, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard, had a 15-year playing career as a prominent sharpshooter for several competitive teams. His basketball insights have been evident during his appearances on ESPN and his podcast with James. Despite being drafted three years after James in 2006, Redick is actually six months older.
The Lakers’ approach to roster construction this summer may be more intriguing than their coaching search. While Ham served adequately, his predecessor Frank Vogel secured a championship in his first season but faced challenges in subsequent years. Unless they secure a coach of the caliber of Erik Spoelstra, it’s doubtful the Lakers will significantly improve their position. Their focus should be on addressing weaknesses in three-point shooting and perimeter defense, which remained critical issues in the previous season.
Leave a Reply