The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to ramp up the process of hiring their next head coach this week. The Lakers, like all teams, are in Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine this week. Los Angeles is expected to begin asking permission to interview assistant coaches, while also deciding what other candidates to bring in. Two prominent candidates for the Lakers are James Borrego and JJ Redick.
Borrego is currently an assistant coach with the New Orleans Pelicans. Before joining the Pelicans, he was the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets for four seasons. Borrego went 138-163 with Charlotte, but his team improved to 43-39 in his final season in 2021-22. While with the Pelicans, Borrego has been credited with improving the offense, which has seen New Orleans play through Zion Williamson more often.
Redick has no coaching experience. He retired as a player in 2021. Since then, Redick has worked in the media as a podcast host, studio analyst and now as an analyst on ESPN’s top announcing team. Teams respect Redick’s understanding of the game, and his approach of marrying analytics to traditional tactics. Redick is also respected by Lakers star LeBron James, who co-host a basketball podcast with the former NBA shooting guard.