The Lakers fans were treated to a piece of good news this time around. The Los Angeles side added a new staff member to their coaching team spearheaded by JJ Redick, and it seems to be a key move by the front office. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke the welcome news. The 2023-24 G League Coach of the Year, Lindsey Harding, who led the Stockton Kings to a brilliant 24-10 record and finished as the top seed in the West, will be the latest addition.

As per Woj, “ESPN Sources: Lindsey Harding — the G League coach of the year — has agreed on a deal to become an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers. Harding leaves the Kings to rejoin JJ Redick, whom she spent time with on the Sixers staff and as a Duke All-American.” As mentioned, Lindsey and JJ do share a history going back to their Duke days. Named the Naismith College Player of the Year, the 2007 Top WNBA pick had her jersey retired by the Blue Devils.

With that honor, Harding became the only second women’s player in school history to have done so. In her nine-year WNBA career, the 40-year-old played for six teams, including the Lynx, Sparks, Liberty, and more. And that’s not including a few international stops. That global attraction seemed to have continued in her coaching years, too, it would seem.

Aside from assistant positions in Sacramento and now Purple & Gold, she carried out HC duties in Mexico and South Sudan. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that the first woman to receive the COTY award comes with a wealth of diverse experience! And the timing couldn’t have been better.

Lindsey Harding’s arrival will provide the spark to ignite JJ Redick’s coaching stint, however, the key problem continues dangling

In a team headed by JJ, getting as many experienced helping hands as possible wouldn’t hurt. Aside from being fellow athletes in the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the pair reunited when JJ Redick was a Sixer and Harding worked with the 76ers as a player development coach. So, the duo do have experience working together. She will be joining a squad that includes former head coaches Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks, as well as assistant coach, Greg St. Jean.

Despite keen basketball knowledge and all the tactical nuts and bolts, there is no going around the fact that this is Redick’s first time coaching. And that too, in a storied franchise like the Lakers. Who also happens to be in one of the worst slumps ever. So, Harding’s arrival couldn’t have happened at a better time. Interestingly, this also happened at a critical time.

The front office failed to land yet another free agent in Gary Trent Jr. and it has fans up in arms. Of course, Harding’s presence is only a slight consolation. Great coaches surely can be an asset, but the Lakers do need bodies on the floor. So, there isn’t much excuse to be given on that front. But there’s no denying that with a strategist like JJ, the experience the whole coaching team brings, along with a mastermind like LeBron James, LA’s title hope might just yet see light.

What do you think about the subject? Can Lindsey Harding turn out to be the X-factor of the Lakers this season? And what are the odds of the Lakers being a contending team this season? Let us know in the comments.

Before you go, though, be sure to check this video of Leonard Armato’s take on the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe. Don’t forget to check back in for more such updates from our ES Fancast!