As much as people hoped, Dan Hurley declined the offer to jump the Lakers‘ bandwagon. The front office was seemingly trying their best, flying in Hurley all the way from the East Coast, but to no avail. He was probably Rob Pelinka and the team’s dream coach, but since the third NCAA title for Connecticut is a much bigger priority for him, it couldn’t pan out. But this disappointment might as well be a piece of good news for LeBron James‘ podcast buddy, JJ Redick, as it made his path much clearer, without any rumor or speculation.
As per the latest update from ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, JJ Redick is all set to go in for a formal interview for the head coach position this weekend with Pelinka and Jeanie Buss. If everything goes well with his performance and offer, Redick might emerge as the frontrunner for one of the most criticized positions in the NBA. Adiran Woj also pointed out that Rob recently had a chat with Redick on a call where JJ had acknowledged why Pelinka needed Hurley for his team, halting Redick’s candidacy. Despite this, he accepted the need of the Lakers’ GM and his desperate quest for Hurley.
Full ESPN story on JJ Redick interviewing for Lakers coaching job with Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss this weekend — with an opportunity to move to forefront with a strong performance https://t.co/qdpjDkYg0a
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 13, 2024
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For now, Redick and Pelinka are past those troubles and might face each other soon for the HC interview. To top it all off, this week, James and Redick did not even shoot for the next episode of their podcast, Mind the Game. Probably, Redick is busy covering the NBA Finals, or he is suiting up and preparing for his upcoming interview.
Can JJ Redick really put justice to Rob Pelinka’s head coach offer if selected?
No wonder JJ Redick has studied the game of basketball over the years as he discusses it with LeBron James on their podcast. However, it is not just about the knowledge of the strategies; it’s about what impact he can bring to the team. With a superstar player like LeBron James, it is quite difficult to command the players around despite having the authority. A player has much more first-hand experience of the court, and he used that leverage to make decisions on his own.
However, a third eye is useful. Moreover, Redick has been an excellent three-point and free-throw shooter throughout his career. It is one thing that the Lakers roster is missing in games. Redick’s keen eye for commanding the locker room and connecting with people, and his sharp basketball IQ add to his credibility. If the ‘Mind The Game’ podcast co-host can bring to the Lakers’ table the things they need the most, he will be more than worthy to take responsibility for Rob Pelinka’s squad.
Ultimately, Pelinka has to take that risk to foster his team. If this goes nothing like what Darvin Ham went through, it will be a ball for the Lakers squad. But it is a call for the future now. Until an official confirmation drops in, keep checking the latest updates on our page.
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Also, before you go, be sure to check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese.
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