JJ Redick has engaged in discussions with the Los Angeles Lakers as they begin their search for a new head coach. During this process, former Lakers guard Lou Williams has advised the ESPN analyst to steer clear of the role.
According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha and Shams Charania, the Lakers have conducted formal interviews with Redick, Sam Cassell, and James Borrego, associate head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, as they look to fill the vacancy left by Darvin Ham. The organization is reportedly very enthusiastic about Redick’s potential as a coach.
However, Williams, who played for the Lakers from 2015 to 2017, expressed reservations about the suitability of this position for Redick or Cassell. “No, I don’t,” Williams said on FanDuel’s Run It Back, when asked if he liked the fit for Redick. “I think he and Sam Cassell should steer clear of this job.”
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Williams, a three-time Sixth Man of the Year, believes the Lakers’ coaching job is not conducive for a first-time head coach due to the immediate high expectations and inevitable scrutiny. “You got to win now. You have to make an immediate impact as the Los Angeles Lakers head coach, and that’s going to be a difficult thing,” he explained. “They’re going to come into that job being criticized before they even step out on the sideline.”
Chandler Parsons offered a more positive view, noting that the Lakers’ popularity as a franchise could make it an attractive destination for free agents, and a successful coach in Los Angeles could become a huge star.
Yet, Williams highlighted the recent experience with Darvin Ham, who was let go after just two seasons despite a fairly successful stint. “Darvin Ham didn’t do a bad job,” Williams remarked. “He took those guys to the Western Conference Finals his first year. The second year, they were a consistent nine/ten seed. They managed to get to a seven seed, lost to a team that they were probably supposed to lose to, and you still lose your job. So when you set a standard like that, what is the ceiling for JJ Redick or Sam Cassell?”
