The Lakers’ new ownership era is barely underway, but one thing already looks settled: JJ Redick appears to be staying put.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said Redick received an extension after his first season as head coach, and that the deal lines up his contract with Rob Pelinka’s. McMenamin added, “I think JJ Redick’s probably in a really good spot here…but will have to see where all this goes.”
That matters in a moment like this. Owners can change the tone of a franchise fast, and a team like the Lakers doesn’t go through a sale without a ripple effect.
But Redick, who was hired with no NBA coaching experience and became one of the youngest head coaches ever, has already built a strong case for himself in Los Angeles. He’s been praised for his maturity, humility, and basketball IQ, and the results have followed: two straight 50-win seasons.
There’s also a small layer of familiarity here. While owners often want to bring in their own people, Bob Iger already knows Redick from his playing days with the Clippers, when Iger was a season ticket holder.
Redick may be secure, but he’s not the only familiar name connected to the new group. Another ESPN report tied longtime NBA veteran Chris Paul to the Lakers’ incoming ownership, with Ramona Shelburne saying his relationship with Iger could open the door to an advisory type of role.
“There are a couple of names you should pay attention to: Chris Paul, a very close friend of Bob Iger’s. He’s sort of a mentor to Chris Paul.
Chris recently retired,” Shelburne said. “He’s available, an incredible basketball mind.
I don’t know what that means for him, but I expect they’ll be talking.”
Paul’s name will always carry weight around the Lakers. He has long been linked to the franchise in the minds of fans, especially after the vetoed trade in 2011, and now he’s fresh off retirement and available. With 21 years of experience, he’d bring a sharp basketball mind to any official advisory job, and he could also help younger players as a mentor and guide.
For now, though, this is still the opening stage of the transition. The new owners are settling in after their historic purchase, and the real question is how they’ll use the deep pockets that come with it. Bob Iger and Josh Kushner are in it for the long haul, and the next chapter of Lakers basketball will be defined by what they choose to do with that power.
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