The Importance of Roster Construction
Steve Kerr spent the bulk of his post-playing career in the broadcast booth. Despite lacking experience as a head or assistant coach, Kerr became the top candidate in his coaching cycle and was offered two jobs. The Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks both sought him out. Derek Fisher ultimately took the Knicks job but lasted less than two years. This outcome underscores an important fact: as much importance as we assign to coaching hires, they don't matter much if the team can't get the roster right.
The success of J.J. Redick in Los Angeles will hinge on the players that Rob Pelinka and his front office can provide. A major focus will be the development of young talents like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Max Christie. This developmental priority was reported even during the pursuit of other coaching candidates like Dan Hurley.
Offensive Strategy Adjustments
Redick plans to involve Anthony Davis more in the offense, especially in late-game situations. One of his major goals is to alleviate LeBron James' ball-handling duties to keep LeBron fresh for the playoffs. Trae Young's fit with the Lakers makes a lot of sense based on several of these criteria. Redick’s hiring implies that the Lakers are thinking more long-term. Los Angeles is confident that Redick can be their version of Erik Spoelstra or Steve Kerr—a culture-setter who can grow with the franchise for over a decade.
With foundational pieces like James and Davis, it's a solid starting point. During their 2020 championship run, the Lakers didn’t have a third star, which limited their ceiling. Malcolm Brogdon could probably be acquired for less than someone like Dejounte Murray. Collin Sexton was reportedly a target for the Lakers at the trade deadline. The wing market is typically less forgiving and more challenging to navigate.
Challenges in Acquiring Talent
Ball-handling tends to be a relatively available and cheap commodity in the market. The Lakers have spent significant assets on players like Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, and D'Angelo Russell in recent years. Wings, however, are much harder to come by and are often developed within the organization. Most championship teams cultivate their own wings. The Lakers appear ready to bet on Redick's developmental acumen in this regard.
The Uncertain Future of LeBron James
LeBron James isn't a lock to return next season. Until his future is secured, the Lakers have to remain flexible about life after him. There's no easy way to project the Lakers’ roster at this point. While we understand the broad strokes of how Redick wants to build the team, we lack concrete details on the overall plan. As the season progresses, it will become clearer how Redick's vision will translate on the court, but for now, Lakers fans can only speculate and hope for the best.
Redick's success will not be determined solely by his strategies. His success will be determined by how well the team can assemble a supportive and talented roster around him. The Lakers are confident he can be their Erik Spoelstra or Steve Kerr—a culture-setter who can grow with the franchise for over a decade. With foundational players like James and Davis and a focus on developing young talent, Redick's tenure as Lakers head coach holds promise. However, the true test will be in the execution and the front office's ability to assemble the right pieces.
Quotes
“Los Angeles is confident he can be their version of Erik Spoelstra or Steve Kerr—a culture-setter who can grow with the franchise for over a decade.”