Report: JJ Redick, Tyronn Lue Could Become Next Lakers Coach

According to NBA insider Dave McMenamin of ESPN, JJ Redick or Tyronn Lue could become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The Lakers will fire Darvin Ham soon. 

Lakers linked to a possible new head coach? 👀

(via @mcten, @dpshow) pic.twitter.com/oyD6ZX581Y

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 3, 2024

Lue and LeBron James won the 2016 championship together on the Cleveland Cavaliers. They have a close relationship. 

Meanwhile, LeBron and Redick are podcast partners. Redick has been linked to the Lakers, Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons. The Pistons could hire Redick to a front-office role. 

Lue is currently the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, who are down 3-2 to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. 

The Lakers went 47-35 in the regular season. They were sixth in the NBA in points per game, 23rd in points per game allowed and 19th in net rating. 

Los Angeles defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in the 7-8 play-in game. The Denver Nuggets eliminated the Lakers from the postseason for the second consecutive year. 

A source told Hoops Wire that Lakers players “are done” with Ham. Los Angeles’ front office conducted exit interviews with players on Wednesday (5/1).

“Darvin is getting fired,” the source said. “Look, he’s a nice guy. Players like him as a person. He’s easy to talk to. He’s a former player and won a championship. Players respect him as a person. But that’s the issue. They respect him as a person, not as a coach. His schemes, rotations and inability to take accountability for his mistakes rubbed guys the wrong way all year. 

“They are done with Darvin. They wanted Phil (Handy) to replace Darvin earlier in the season. Darvin is done in LA and he knows it.”

LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he declines his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers worth $51.4 million. Most insiders around the NBA expect LeBron to remain with Los Angeles. 

LeBron appeared in 71 games for the Lakers this season. The four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists while shooting 54.0% from the field, 41.0% from beyond the arc and 75.0% from the free-throw line. 

A source told Hoops Wire that LeBron, 39, would “love” to reunite with Lue. The source said that LeBron also favors the Lakers hiring Redick.