The writing was on the wall for Darvin Ham’s future with the Los Angeles Lakers following the team's first-round exit against the Denver Nuggets in this year’s NBA playoffs.
With just a 90-74 regular season record as the Lakers head coach, it was clear a change needed to be made.
Just days after being eliminated from championship contention, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka cut ties with the team’s head coach. With Los Angeles lacking direction and Ham’s abysmal 9-12 postseason record, the historic franchise had to shake things up.
Following the departure of Ham, the Lakers went big fish hunting in their pursuit of one of the best head coaches in college basketball, Dan Hurley. Los Angeles felt the UConn head coach could bring their squad back to contention.
However, after Hurley elected to stay put in his current situation leading the Huskies program, LA turned their attention to one of the brightest basketball minds in the game, JJ Redick.
Following the end of the postseason, Redick and the Lakers agreed on a four-year deal to make the 40-year-old the 29th head coach in Lakers history.
Redick enters a situation with superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis established as the team’s cornerstones. With a mix of young talent and a more than capable supporting cast, the Lakers seemingly only needed a head coach to put them in the right direction.
Listening to Redick's podcast “Mind the Game” with his now-star player LeBron James, it won’t be a surprise if the two minds manage to put the Lakers in position to hit the ground running.
Considering all Ham has to show for his time with LA is an in-season tournament championship, the bar isn’t set too high for Redick to succeed. Especially if he can help raise another championship banner, but this time for the postseason gold.
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