Lakers double down on JJ Redick vision by hiring G League Coach of the Year

The Los Angeles Lakers made one of the riskiest bets of the offseason by hiring first-year head coach JJ Redick. Redick is known in NBA circles for his work as an analyst and his successful playing career, but has yet to lead a sideline at a level higher than youth basketball.

In preparation for his first season as an NBA head coach, Redick is hiring experienced people to help him navigate uncharted territory, and his latest hire may be his most intriguing yet.

Los Angeles recently hired former NBA head coaches Scott Brooks and Nate McMillan for assistant coaching roles. In addition to building out the experienced staff, the Lakers are prioritizing one of Redick’s key areas of focus: player development.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers have continued that trend by hiring Lindsey Harding, a former WNBA player and the current G League Coach of the Year, to join Redick’s staff.

“Sacramento Kings G League coach Lindsey Harding has agreed to a deal to become an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.”

It’s another example of Redick surrounding himself with experienced coaches he knows and trusts, placing a clear emphasis on player development.

With an impressive track record as a player development specialist, Harding fits into Redick’s vision for the Lakers. Before her success in the G League, she served as a player development coach with the Philadelphia 76ers when Redick played for the team.

They also attended Duke during the same period, where Redick won the National Player of the Year award in 2006 and Harding won the ACC Player of the Year award the year after entering the NBA.

Since then, Harding has become one of the NBA’s top coaching talents. Last season, she led the Stockton Kings to the No. 1 seed in the G League’s Western Conference, leading the team to the Conference Finals in the playoffs.

It should come as no surprise then that Redick sees their existing relationship, and Harding’s extensive playing and coaching experience, as an asset to his coaching staff.

Los Angeles has committed to its youth movement by drafting Dalton Knecht and Bronny James and re-signing Max Christie to a four-year, $32 million contract. It also signed Summer League star Colin Castleton to a two-way contract for the second consecutive season.

Additionally, the Lakers have publicly named Christie, Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Austin Reaves as members of their young core.

The goal remains to build a winning team around Anthony Davis and LeBron James, but the Lakers’ signing of Harding reinforces how important it is for Redick to develop talent. It’s an area where Los Angeles has had limited success during the Pelinka era, but there’s a clear desire to change course.

If the decision to hire Redick and the subsequent steps to surround him with player development specialists are any indication of things to come, the tide is turning.