The owner of the Lakers explains why they have hired JJ Redick

The Los Angeles Lakers have made a bold and surprising decision by hiring J.J. Redick as their new head coach, aiming to break away from their traditional mold and adapt to the new realities of the NBA. Historically, the Lakers have not excelled in developing non-superstar players, a deficiency they have offset by attracting big names through free agency or trades, such as LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal.

However, with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) constraints, including a stricter apron, NBA franchises, including the Lakers, are compelled to rethink how they construct their rosters. This shift in the playing field rules is one of the key reasons the Lakers have opted for Redick, a coach with no prior experience but with a fresh and promising vision.

Jeanie Buss, Lakers Governor, commented on this decision on the "Petros and Money" radio show on Los Angeles' 570 AM station. “We wanted to think differently. He really has a vision. I don’t feel comfortable talking about specific basketball aspects, but we were looking for a candidate who would bring something different and really invest in the development of young players. J.J. is the right person for us. Again, I just want the work to speak for itself, so I don’t want to overstate and say it will be a sure success. We have to give him time to establish what he wants to establish. I’m very impressed with his coaching staff. Right now, it's not mandatory for players to come to practice, but they are coming and working. With the experience of his team, like Nate McMillan and Scotty Brooks, there will be a lot of support to help him transition to head coach. With a 12-year career in the league, he has a lot of experience. He knows what this league is all about, and I believe he will be a great leader,” said Buss.

Lakers fans share the hope that Redick will be the change the team needs.

Unique Challenges and Advantages for the Lakers

Being a coach for the Lakers or part of their front office presents unique challenges. There is no doubt that the Lakers have distinctive advantages. They possess a legacy brand, and their massive fan base can mean sponsorship opportunities or others for players. Also, they are in a city with enviable weather where players want to be; LeBron James chose to come to Los Angeles, and other players, from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, have pushed their way to this city. On the business side, the franchise generates revenue like no other and has the best local television deal in the league.

But with those advantages come challenges. Fan expectations are often unrealistic, and when unmet, the pressure for changes is immediate and strong. More importantly, the Lakers are a family operation compared to other NBA franchises. The Buss family owns the team, with Jeanie Buss as the main decision-maker, and most of the family's income comes from the team. Unlike other NBA owners like Steve Ballmer (Clippers) or Joe Lacob (Warriors), whose money comes from other businesses, the Lakers are the Buss family business, which can lead to specific internal dynamics. Additionally, the Lakers have a much smaller front office and scouting operation than most other teams.

To maintain the level of success that fans expect, the Lakers must be more creative. The next era for the Lakers will require a better internal player development program, hitting on their draft picks (something they have historically done well but with fluctuations in recent years), and establishing a solid foundation on which they can add or trade for stars who still wish to join. However, that foundation must be in place; the Lakers cannot rely solely on their brand (as the Knicks learned over the past few decades before Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau changed their culture).

The Challenge for J.J. Redick

Much is being placed on Redick’s shoulders, but he knew what he was getting into and wanted to take on the challenge. The Lakers need to be patient and give him a few years to establish himself and develop his program, at which point the team is likely going through a transition on the court as well. Only then will we see if this was a good hire and if the Lakers truly start thinking differently.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La propietaria de los Lakers explica por qué han contratado a JJ Redick