THE SECOND – Dalton Knecht. Brony James.
That’s it for changes to the Los Angeles Lakers roster this season, two rookies who may not be part of the regular rotation (Knecht has a chance if he shoots 3s like the Lakers hope and shows he can do more than just that ). Basically, the Lakers are running it back with a roster that won 47 games last season, landed in the play-in, then was unceremoniously bounced in the first round by Denver.
The Lakers are counting on one other change: JJ Redick as coach.
Lakers management bet hard that Redick – a first-time coach at any professional or college level – is the key to unlocking this roster and returning the Lakers to the top of the West, as well as building something sustainable to overtake them at any time. LeBron James decides to hang up his Nikes.
It’s a huge request.
Is JJ Redick up to the task?
WHAT’S DIFFERENT UNDER REDICK?
Former coach Darvin Ham’s name was not mentioned at Lakers media day, but plenty of shade was quietly thrown his way. It showed in the way players praised Redick’s attention to detail.
D’Angelo Russell said he felt the team “flew it” last summer, but there was a lot more structure this year.
“I can’t compare, but it’s been really detail oriented so far,” Cam Reddish said.
That’s great for summer workouts, but what should Lakers fans expect when the games start?
A lot more 3-pointers. It shouldn’t be shocking that one of the best pure shooters of a generation wants his team to shoot more 3s. It’s also the right tactical move — Joe Mazzula’s Celtics shot three more 3-pointers per game than any team in the league last season (a league-high 47.1% of their shots), and while it’s not the only reason, that they had the best offense. in the NBA last season it is part of it.
The Lakers were second in the league in the percentage of shots taken from 3 (35.8%). If there’s one thing players said Redick preached, it’s taking more 3s.
“Even the Olympics when I [made] 3, he’d text me ‘That’s what I want to see,’ things like that,” Lakers center Anthony Davis said. “So for him, it’s definitely going to be just shooting more threes.”
The Lakers shot 37.7% from 3 last season (eighth best in the league), they have the shooters, those guys just need to take the shots.
More movement in the offense. Redick doesn’t want LeBron James — or D’Angelo Russell, or Austin Reaves — hitting the ball out over the top of the key, calling big for a pick and running basic pick-and-roll sets all game. He wants a lot more movement of the ball, including a 39-year-old LeBron.
More shot creation by people other than LeBron. A lot is asked of LeBron as a play maker and primary shot creator – something he showed in the Paris Olympics that he is still capable of doing at the highest levels. But it’s one thing to do that playing 25 minutes a night through five games with almost no travel, it’s another to do it during the marathon of the 82-game NBA season.
Redick is looking for other players to step up and create more shot attempts – LeBron won’t always bring the ball and initiate the offense or just roll. The offense will run through Anthony Davis more, while players like Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell will be given more playmaking responsibilities. Whether they are for it leads to the other issue about this team.
IS THE BEARING ROAST GOOD ENOUGH?
Talent wins in the NBA. Flat out.
It’s fair to ask if the Lakers have close enough to win more than they did a season ago, or close to the level they expect? If not, does it matter much what Redick does, because how far he can take this team could be limited by what the front office didn’t do this offseason?
Of course, as training camp opens and optimism reigns around the league, the Lakers don’t see it that way.
“We have a lot of confidence in these 15 players,” Laker GM Rob Pelinka said. “I think the opposite of change or overhaul is continuity, and I think continuity can be very successful in sports. This is a core group that made it to the Western Conference Finals. [in 2023]. We didn’t have Gabe Vincent or [Jarred Vanderbilt] last year for entire seasons. If you add two players like that, there’s Delta. I think there will be internal growth.”
Health was a big topic throughout the Lakers’ media day and how they were cut at the knees from a lack of it a year ago.
It’s true that the Lakers were without key role players for much of last season, and backup center Christian Wood is looking to start this season after knee surgery. However, the Lakers also got 147 games out of Davis and LeBron, not predetermined considering their age and injury history (the pair played 108 games the previous season, but were healthy for the playoffs and the Lakers made a run to the Western Conference Finals. under the fired Darwin Ham.
“I think if we’re healthy and we’re able to stay healthy all season, we could be a top team in the West,” Davis said. “The things we’re able to do on both ends of the floor, and then you add Gabe and Vando and C Wood, I think that helps. But if we, if we get hit by the injury bug again, then it’s going to be tough.”
REDICK’S FANTASY EFFECT
From Noah Rubin of NBC Sports:
Most teams looking to contend with aging stars aren’t going to bring in a first-year head coach, especially one who’s never been an assistant coach. The Nets tried it with Steve Nash, and that was a disaster. However, Redick seems to be up to the task.
He has already revealed his starting lineup, which will feature D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He also talked about Dalton Knecht as an elite shooter, and what coach would be better to maximize the Lakers’ first-round pick than one of the best motion shooters in NBA history?
They pick things back up with mostly the same roster after winning 47 games last season. However, Rob Pelinka indicated that they would be open to moving their future first-round picks if it helps them gain “sustained Lakers excellence.” What does that look like? It’s unclear, but it sounds like they’re open to making a trade, which may not happen until the trade deadline.
This team is capable of winning 50 games (just three more than last year), but a lot of that will fall on Redick’s shoulders. There won’t be a coaching situation that is more closely monitored by fans and media this season. Everyone will be watching to see if the former podcaster can make the jump to leading an NBA franchise.
