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On May 3, four days after the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Craig's reserved a booth for four VIPs: the Lakers' new superstar point guard, Luka Doncic; his longtime manager, Lara Beth Seager; Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka; and coach JJ Redick. LeBron James, the centerpiece of every Lakers decision and strategy for the previous seven-plus years, was not in attendance. Redick, Pelinka and Seager entered through the front entrance, Doncic through the back. But all four exited through the front door, where a crowd of paparazzi and fans spotted them and took videos that were immediately uploaded to TMZ and social media. Doncic even stopped to sign a few autographs before leaving. The purpose of the meeting was as clear as their choice of door: Doncic is the face of the franchise now and the Lakers wanted him -- and everyone else -- to know it. Over a bottle of Opus One, Pelinka and Redick explained not only their strategy in building the team around Doncic's skill set, sources told ESPN, but also the complexities of the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement and how they planned to navigate it.
The Lakers will gladly accept either, though they may have to be patient; Doncic is playing for the Slovenian national team this summer in the high-intensity EuroBasket, which runs through mid-September, and his NBA contract business might wait until then. But that is not the kind of topic you talk about over dinner at Craig's in May, however. No, at that dinner plans are made to visit Doncic in Europe later this summer. Players he would like to team up with are discussed; the team's style of play and organizational culture are examined. Behind the tinted windows, the leaders of the Lakers' organization sent a message to the star they hope will lead them: That this is what life in L.A. can be like if he elects to stay and be the next face of the franchise.
Dave McMenamin: Rob Pelinka on the Lakers’ Jake LaRavia signing, from the team’s release: “Jake is a high IQ two-way player with ideal skills for a JJ Redick basketball system. He’s a disruptive defender who uses his size and physicality to create turnovers. Offensively, he can score at all three levels and has a knack for creating space for himself and his teammates.”
Lakers team sources believe they have the coaching staff required to make Deandre Ayton signing work
For Ayton, who turns 27 at the end of July, the opportunity to re-establish himself couldn’t be more clear. While his contract with the Lakers has a second-year player option, no one involved wants him to exercise it — the hope being that he far outplays that $8 million valuation and commands way more next summer. Team sources believe the Lakers have the right coaching staff to make that happen. In JJ Redick, they have a deadly serious head coach who also understands how to relate to players. Assistant Scott Brooks worked with Ayton in Portland two years ago, and Nate McMillan has either played or coached with or against virtually every personality type the NBA’s ever concocted. And if not, the Lakers have maintained their flexibility for next summer and beyond.
Bronny said his primary goal this summer is to be in “elite” physical condition — the charge given to him by Lakers coach JJ Redick. And with each passing day since a cardiac arrest in 2023, he has been more comfortable testing himself physically. “I think that side of confidence just comes with time. Being able to go through or endure myself at a longer rate of time, just being able to be out there for a longer time, going at it. So just coming in every day and pushing myself even more than I did the last day, I think is just really good for me,” he said. “And if I can see myself get through that, then just day on day, I’m just building. Yeah, that confidence just comes with time and not having any setbacks when it comes to that.”
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According to league sources, LaRavia was the Lakers’ first call when free agency officially opened at 3 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday. In his conversation with Rob Pelinka and Lakers coach JJ Redick, LaRavia and his team were impressed with the ways Pelinka sold the strengths of the Lakers’ brand and Redick’s detailed vision for how he’d like to use the young wing. The Lakers were able to get a relatively quick commitment to a two-year guaranteed contract worth $12 million. “Hope Lakers fans are as excited as I am,” LaRavia posted on Instagram. “Let’s work.”
Law Murray: Kobe Sanders will start out wearing #4 with LA Clippers. Last worn by Mo Bamba and Brandon Boston Jr. Most notably worn by JJ Redick and Ron Harper
They were the only NBA team without a representative at the Sloan Analytics Conference in 2013 because they didn't have much of an analytics department to speak of. While the team has committed more resources recently at the behest of coach JJ Redick, it was an area the Lakers had long lagged behind compared to the rest of the league. Walter's reputation as an owner is the opposite. And as soon as he purchased a minority stake of the Lakers in 2021, this sale was a possibility, if not an inevitably. "Somebody of the magnitude of Mark Walter comes in," a league source said, "it was probably a foregone conclusion at some point in time."
While there are still some who wonder if Kidd might try to push his way out, or perhaps inspire Mavericks ownership to give him an extension in lieu of such a move, the Mavericks have been adamant internally that Kidd isn’t going anywhere. For the sake of additional context, I spent part of Wednesday evening trying to figure out which other current head coaches the Knicks might have attempted to contact. And while there were no new names revealed, it’s worth sharing that league sources say the Knicks did not request permission to speak to this elite coaching crew: The Pacers’ Rick Carlisle, the Warriors’ Steve Kerr, the Bucks’ Doc Rivers, the Clippers’ Ty Lue and the Lakers’ JJ Redick.
Stu Jackson: Lakers coach JJ Redick was in attendance watching the Rams' OTA workout today. He also spoke to Rams players today. Sean McVay said he first connected with Redick prior to him taking the Lakers job. "Always respected him from afar. A well-thought-out guy, a great willingness to look inwardly (for) areas of improvement, understanding how you bring people together. Really enjoyed him coming out."
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LeBron James on his critics: How can you challenge what I'm doing if you've never stepped foot in the arena?
LeBron James: Even with the criticism—and it still goes on—like in the 2020 Finals, I had an unbelievable game against the Heat. Late in the game, I drove the ball. Two or three defenders came at me. I found Danny Green wide open for a three. He missed it. And we went to Game 5—or Game 6, I believe. I’d make that play every time. JJ Redick: Every time. LeBron James: And I’ll take it every time. And people say, “Why didn’t you take the shot?” “There he goes again—passing up the shot.” They’ve never been there. They don’t understand. One of my favorite quotes—though I don’t know it verbatim—is from Theodore Roosevelt, about the “man in the arena.” "It is not the critic who counts... The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena..." And the loudest voices are always from those not in the arena. So how can you challenge what I’m doing if you’ve never even stepped foot in there?
Speaking on the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast with co-host Steve Nash, James addressed Redick’s decision-making during the series and emphasized that the locker room remained unified behind the coaching staff. “None of us questioned it. None of us questioned JJ and the coaching staff for what happened,” James said, referring to the lineup and rotation decisions made during the series. “Obviously, Gabe [Vincent] and Vando [Jarred Vanderbilt], guys that come, you know, given us so many great minutes. They definitely felt a way, and you know, because they’re competitors. S**t, we all feel like we could get in and make a moment happen, which JJ told us… It wasn’t a decision that was based on guys not being able to do the job. It was his decision based on the feeling of the game and the momentum of the game.”
With only one playoff game on Saturday's schedule, much attention in the hours before the Denver Nuggets' Game 7 victory over the visiting LA Clippers was soaked up by Friday night footage circulating of Dončić leaving a dinner with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick at Craig's in West Hollywood. The summit over a meal took place just two nights after their season ended with a Game 5 home loss to Minnesota. The meeting was also attended by Lara Beth Seager, chief brand officer and business manager for Dončić, as planning begins for the 26-year-old to move past a season that upended his life in unimaginable ways.
And that feedback came immediately from the Lakers organization. On Thursday, Pelinka opened his season-ending news conference by singing Redick’s praises. And as The Athletic reported on Friday, Redick’s job is safe, and the Lakers remain confident in him actualizing his potential as a promising young coach who had, all things considered, a successful debut season. “JJ brought just a complete revival of energy and incredibly hard work ethic, attention to detail, a spirit to our team, to our group, to our franchise as a rookie coach that we haven’t seen in a long time,” Pelinka said Thursday. “Our level of confidence, my level of confidence couldn’t be higher. He’s a great partner to work with. He’s an incredible basketball mind, and I know that every year for him will be things to celebrate and learning lessons. That’s just who he is. That’s exciting for the Lakers, for our fan base and for our future.”
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