Lakers News: 2 Factors Had Rob Pelinka Sold Over Coach JJ Redick as LA Finally Fills Locker Room Void

It took a few weeks, but after his interview with the Lakers, JJ Redick has reportedly signed a 4-year contract with the franchise. This did not surprise many, since the ESPN analyst had been the favorite to land the head coaching role, before and after all the Dan Hurley chaos. Fans wanted to see JJ on the sideline even more after his basketball IQ showcase alongside LeBron James on ‘Mind the Game’. Until yesterday, there also seemed to be interference with his candidature, as Pistons head coach Monty Williams was dismissed.

It seemed the Lakers would take their time picking the right option. However, they signed the fan-favorite, and according to Adrian Wojnarowski, Redick has started working on building an experienced coaching staff around him. JJ had to go through with the said responsibility as the Lakers had fired its entire coaching staff following the first-round exit in the playoffs this year. The veteran analyst also believed that Pelinka was sold on two factors that made him confident in handing the coaching reigns to Bron’s pod pal.

1. Pelinka became sold on Redick’s ability to connect with players and his basketball IQ.
2. Pelinka believes surrounding him with an elite coaching staff will help to shorten the learning curve in his first coaching job.

As a rookie coach, the former shooting guard has massive expectations on his shoulders, mainly because of his background. He’s shared his in-game knowledge on his podcasts as well as on national television. Now having to work hands-on with the Lakers and spearhead their Championship dream, the franchise definitely has high hopes. But what changes for the Lakers?

JJ Redick can be the Lakers’ missing piece

There are concerns over Redick’s future in LA. In the last five years, the Lakers have gone through multiple changes in their roster as well as the coaching staff. With Redick on board for four years, it seems that the Lakers have gone the distance this time. They have a head coach who the players can look up to, considering he’s a long-standing pillar in the NBA himself during his playing days.

Not to mention Redick and LeBron’s friendship- the Lakers have taken a completely different approach. However, they still need a lot of work on shaping their roster. While Redick won’t be in charge of that, the front office can look to acquire shooters. The team lacks shooting and even backup scorers. D’Lo and Reaves are the only reliable shooters on the team. For the most part, both struggled to keep up in the postseason.

There are a lot of players in the free agency market, like Klay Thompson, who would love to wear Purple and Gold. Once the Lakers figure out their roster, they will have a complete team. Though only this time, they might pick up the ‘no room for error’ mindset going into the next season. However, the odds are not stacked in the LA side’s favor. To bring in Championship-quality players, they do not have too much to offer as leverage for a trade. That makes it even more interesting to see how things play out in LA next season.

What are your thoughts on JJ Redick becoming the Lakers head coach? Do you think he’ll make an immediate impact? Let us know in the comments.

Before leaving, be sure to check out some insights that Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, shared about WNBA stars, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.