The Importance of Roster Construction
Steve Kerr spent the bulk of his post-playing career in the broadcast booth before transitioning to coaching. Despite lacking experience as a head or assistant coach, Kerr became a top candidate during his hiring cycle, eventually being offered two coaching jobs. Both the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks sought him out, but ultimately, Derek Fisher ended up taking the Knicks job. Fisher lasted less than two years in that position.
As much importance as we assign to coaching hires, they don't matter much if the team can’t get the roster right. J.J. Redick’s success in Los Angeles will hinge significantly on the players that Rob Pelinka and his front office can provide. A major focus will be the development of young talents like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Max Christie. This developmental priority was reported even during the pursuit of other coaching candidates like Dan Hurley.
Offensive Strategy Adjustments
Redick has plans to involve Anthony Davis more in the offense, especially in late-game situations. One of his significant goals is to alleviate LeBron James' ball-handling duties to keep LeBron fresh for the playoffs. Considering these criteria, Trae Young’s fit with the Lakers makes a lot of sense.
Redick’s Long-term Potential
Redick's hiring implies that the Lakers are thinking more long-term. Los Angeles is confident that Redick can be their version of Erik Spoelstra or Steve Kerr—a culture-setter who can grow with the franchise for over a decade. With foundational pieces like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, it's a solid starting point.
During their 2020 championship run, the Lakers didn’t have a third star, which limited their ceiling. Malcolm Brogdon could probably be acquired for less than someone like Dejounte Murray, and Collin Sexton was reportedly a target for the Lakers at the trade deadline. The wing market is typically less forgiving and more challenging to navigate, making it crucial for the Lakers to develop their wings internally.
Challenges in Acquiring Talent
Ball-handling tends to be a relatively available and cheap commodity in the market. However, the Lakers have spent significant assets on players like Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, and D'Angelo Russell in recent years. Wings are much harder to come by and are often developed within the organization. Most championship teams cultivate their own wings, and it appears the Lakers are ready to bet on Redick's developmental acumen in this regard.
The Uncertain Future of LeBron James
LeBron James isn’t a lock to return, and until his future is secured, the Lakers must remain flexible about life after him. There's no easy way to project the Lakers’ roster at this point. While we understand the broad strokes of how Redick wants to build the team, we lack concrete details on the overall plan. As the season progresses, it will become clearer how Redick's vision will translate on the court. For now, Lakers fans can only speculate and hope for the best.
Redick's success will not be determined solely by his strategies. Rather, his success will be determined by how well the team can assemble a supportive and talented roster around him. Los Angeles is betting that Redick can set a culture and grow with the franchise over the long term, much like Erik Spoelstra and Steve Kerr have done with their respective teams.
In summary, while coaching hires are essential, the importance of roster construction cannot be overstated. Redick's potential as a culture-setter offers promise, but the ultimate success of the Lakers will depend heavily on the front office's ability to assemble the right mix of talent to support his vision.