Lacking any prior coaching involvement at the top level, JJ Redick is coming to the forefront as a possible coach. His contendership extends beyond the Los Angeles Lakers and could very well include the Detroit Pistons, attributed to his Duke University roots.
In their quest for a fresh head coach after the ousting of Monty Williams following a lone season, the Pistons have resolved to remunerate Williams with a considerable amount of $65 million for relinquishing his coaching duties.
Conversely, Redick is whispered to be the frontrunner for the Lakers’ coaching job, owing to his bond with LeBron James. This might place him ahead of James Borrego, assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans, and other hopefuls.
Regarding Borrego, Pistons’ new General Manager Trajan Langdon has a history of collaboration with him during their tenure with the Pelicans, indicative of a likely professional connection.
Langdon has a shared legacy with Redick as well, as both stood out at Duke University. Their commonalities stemming from the Blue Devils could influence the selection proceedings. It also might be worth considering Redick’s prominence as an ESPN basketball commentator, although this is merely conjecture.
Still, one may wonder who might be eager to embrace the daunting task of directing the Pistons. They endured a grim trajectory of 28 straight defeats under Williams, even in light of his widely acknowledged coaching prowess. Elevating a neophyte such as Redick to such a station could precipitate tumultuous outcomes.
Nevertheless, given the Pistons’ abysmal performance last season, concluding at 14-68, there may be little left to decline. Should Redick not secure the Lakers’ position and remains steadfast in his coaching ambitions, he may find his prospects confined to the Pistons, particularly since the Cleveland Cavaliers seem to have no interest in him.
As such, the NBA continually presents its unpredictability: coaches face termination routinely, retired marksmen weigh in on coaching opportunities, and franchises like the Pistons grapple with directional woes.
