The Importance of Roster Construction
Steve Kerr's post-playing career largely unfolded in the broadcast booth. Despite his lack of experience as a head or assistant coach, Kerr became the top candidate during the coaching cycle and was offered two jobs. Both the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks pursued him. Ultimately, Derek Fisher took the Knicks job but lasted less than two years. This scenario underscores the critical lesson that, as important as coaching hires are, they matter little if the team fails to get the roster right.
Redick’s Path to Success with the Lakers
J.J. Redick's success in Los Angeles will hinge on the talent that Rob Pelinka and his front office can assemble. A major focus will be on developing young talents like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Max Christie. This developmental priority was evident even during the pursuit of other coaching candidates like Dan Hurley.
Offensive Strategy Adjustments
Redick plans to more involve Anthony Davis in the offense, especially in late-game situations. One of his major goals is to alleviate LeBron James' ball-handling duties to keep LeBron fresh for the playoffs. Trae Young's potential fit with the Lakers aligns with several of these criteria, making such a move a sensible option.
Redick’s Long-term Potential
Redick's hiring suggests that the Lakers are thinking beyond the immediate future. 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 over the long haul.
Building Around Foundation Pieces
With foundational pieces like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers have a solid starting point. However, during their 2020 championship run, the absence of a third star limited their ceiling. Acquiring a player like Malcolm Brogdon might not demand as much capital as someone like Dejounte Murray. Additionally, Collin Sexton was reportedly a target for the Lakers at the trade deadline. The wing market, known to be unforgiving, presents a more complex challenge to navigate.
Challenges in Acquiring Talent
While ball-handling talent tends to be relatively available and affordable in the market, wings are much harder to come by and often need to be developed internally. The Lakers have spent significant assets on players like Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, and D'Angelo Russell in recent years. Nevertheless, most championship teams cultivate their own wings, and the Lakers appear ready to bet on Redick's developmental acumen in this regard.
The Uncertain Future of LeBron James
A significant question mark surrounds the future of LeBron James. He isn't a lock to return, and until his future is secured, the Lakers must remain flexible about life after him. Projecting the Lakers' roster involves many uncertainties. While broad strokes of how Redick wants to build the team are understood, concrete details on the overall plan remain elusive.
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 but by how well the team can assemble a supportive and talented roster around him.
"Los Angeles is confident he can be their version of Erik Spoelstra or Steve Kerr—a culture-setter who can grow with the franchise for over a decade."