I’m not yet considering hiring JJ Redick as the Lakers coach.
After the Pistons shockingly released Monty Williams on Wednesday with more than $65 million remaining on his historic contract, Redick “could be a name to watch” in Detroit’s scramble. According to Yahoo.
The reports were somewhat cautious about Redick’s candidacy but did mention his ties to Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon and vice president Arn Tellem.
“With Redick currently the front-runner to head the Lakers, it’s unclear how much support Detroit will actually get,” Yahoo’s Vincent Goodwill wrote. “Redick and Langdon have ties to Duke University, and the two were in New Orleans when Redick signed with the club as a free agent before the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season. FYI, Therme is also a Redick fan.”
The Pistons now have three head coaching positions open after firing Williams just one year into his six-year contract.
Redick has alternated between being the Lakers’ top prospect and a potential replacement, but now appears to be in charge after University of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley rejected a six-year, $70 million offer from the team.
ESPN’s Jay Williams, a former Duke University star like Redick, may have foreshadowed the Lakers’ victory on Tuesday when he called Redick the Lakers’ coach.
“The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to figure out how to navigate first-time head coach JJ Redick and I wish him the best of luck, along with LeBron James in his later years,” Williams said.
Redick also has ties to Langdon at Duke, but the Pistons have no hope of winning a coaching battle with the Lakers.
Pelicans assistant James Borrego was also named as a player to watch in the Yahoo report, but like Redick, he is being drafted by others.
Borrego is reportedly the front-runner to become the Cavaliers’ head coach.
The Pistons are fresh off an NBA-worst 14-68 season and will have the fifth pick in next week’s draft, so whoever gets the job will have a tough road ahead of them.
