The Importance of Roster Construction
Steve Kerr spent the bulk of his post-playing career in the broadcast booth before stepping into coaching. Despite his lack of experience as a head or assistant coach, he became a top candidate during his hiring cycle, receiving offers from both the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks. Derek Fisher ultimately took the Knicks job, lasting less than two years. As much importance as we assign to coaching hires, a coach's impact can only go so far if the team can't get the roster right.
JJ Redick's success with the Los Angeles Lakers will hinge on the players that General Manager Rob Pelinka and his front office can assemble. A significant focus will be the development of 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 involve Anthony Davis more in the offense, especially in late-game situations. One of his major objectives is to alleviate LeBron James' ball-handling duties to keep LeBron fresh for the playoffs. Trae Young's fit with the Lakers aligns well with several of these criteria, making him an interesting potential addition.
Redick’s Long-term Potential
Redick's hiring signals that the Lakers are thinking long-term. The organization is confident that Redick can become 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 James and Davis, the Lakers have a solid starting point. However, 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. 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. Most championship teams cultivate their own wings, making it imperative for the Lakers to develop this position internally.
Challenges in Acquiring Talent
Ball-handlers tend to be relatively available and inexpensive in the market. The Lakers have spent significant assets on players like Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, and D'Angelo Russell in recent years. However, wings are much harder to come by and are often developed within the organization. The Lakers appear 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 have to 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.
Lakers fans can only speculate and hope for the best regarding this new era. Redick's success will not be determined solely by his strategies. Instead, his success will hinge on how well the team can assemble a supportive and talented roster around him.
Quotes
“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.”