Lakers’ head coach search focused on 3 leading candidates

Apr 22, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at center court during game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers appear poised to ramp up their search for a new head coach, and three leading candidates have emerged as options.

JJ Redick, James Borrego and Sam Cassell have emerged as the Lakers’ top three targets in their coaching search, according to Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Other candidates are expected to be in the frame, including Nuggets assistant David Adelman and Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori.

The list is interesting because of the three leading candidates, only Borrego has served as a head coach in the NBA before. Cassell has had a number of assistant coaching jobs since 2009. Redick, though widely respected, has never coached before.

The report states that the Lakers are seeking to hire a coach who will command the locker room, hold players accountable, and implement an improved level of structure and organization to the team.

Borrego, currently a top assistant with the New Orleans Pelicans, is the name to watch if the Lakers prioritize experience. However, Redick’s name keeps popping up in relation to the job. The Lakers have done a lot of preliminary work on him, and their interest appears very real. Such a hire would be a real risk, though, especially since this may be the last head coach the Lakers hire with LeBron James in the fold.

The Lakers are searching for a new coach after parting ways with Darvin Ham after two seasons.