With each passing day, it appears that JJ Redick has emerged as the favorite to become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers . The latest intel from The Athletic's Jovan Buha and Marc Stein states that the former Duke Blue Devil is the early favorite to succeed Darvin Ham as the Lakers' bench tactician. But while some camps are okay with this, some vehemently oppose it as well.
Fox Sports' Skip Bayless is one of those who doesn't think Redick would be a good fit for the Purple and Gold. He thinks it would be a massive mistake if the Lakers hired Redick.
"I do like him and respect his basketball IQ," said Skip on Undisputed. "And I think that he does vibe with LeBron on this podcast and it's a high-level, deep-level podcast so we get that. But knowing what I know about this league and what it requires, this would be a disaster of Westbrookian proportions to add him to the Lakers."
JJ vibes well with LeBron on their podcast
Redick currently co-hosts the Mind the Game podcast with LeBron James. The show, which premiered just last March 19, 2024, isn't your usual podcast. Aside from discussing the game, Redick and James also talk about the X's and O's, making it as Skip said a 'high-level' podcast.
But while Redick has shown that he has the basketball mind needed to be an NBA coach, and more importantly, he can get along well with LeBron James over a glass of wine, talking about basketball is an entirely different beast from coaching the team which has the highest expectation in all of pro basketball.
"I'm rooting for JJ to be the coach because I would love to watch it rubbernecked. I would love to come in day after day and talk about the disaster that it had become because it would be fun…LeBron did want Westbrook and he pushed hard for Westbrook. And so did Anthony. But they wanted both badly. And it was a nightmare for everybody involved. The point is JJ Redick won't work, but if LeBron wants it, it's going to happen."
One of the most disappointing seasons in the Lakers' history
The Lakers infamously chose Russell Westbrook over DeMar DeRozan in 2021 to form a Big 3 with LeBron and Anthony Davis before signing Carmelo Anthony to add more firepower off the bench during the summer of 2021. But the moves backfired as the Lakers finished with a disastrous 33-49 record and missed the playoffs.
"You can't ask Melo to go dive on the floor for a loose ball or, you know," Ariza told Shannon Sharpe on " Club Shay Shay last year." "Chase Anthony Edwards around for like 40 minutes. You're not gonna get that out of him. You're not gonna ask Dwight to come off and play only 15 minutes when, in his mind, he feels like can contribute more,"
Including Russ, Melo, Dwight, and Ariza, the Lakers added a record six players aged 32 or older that summer, making the team very old. Injuries and chemistry problems added to their woes resulting in one of the most disappointing seasons in Lakers' history. Meanwhile, age and injuries have nothing to do with JJ Redick, but the fit - or lack thereof could result in a similar disaster as Skip said.
Related: Austin Rivers advises JJ Redick against Lakers coaching gig: "It's a hot seat"
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