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The signing of JJ Redick as the new coach of the Lakers has been one of the most interesting stories in recent weeks in the NBA.
When I write “most interesting stories” I don’t mean sports news. That was the playoffs. I talk about how attractive it has been to follow this saga through the American media and how everything that has emerged, without some aspects still having a clear answer, explains the functioning of professional sports, the coverage of the NBA and the management of the Lakers.
Let’s put ourselves in situation.
On May 3, the Lakers fired Darvin Ham. After two years as head coach, Ham was doomed by his inability to create a plan that would result in not being blown out by Jokic’s Nuggets (6-2 in 2022-23; 7-1 in 2023-24). In his history of achievements, he should not be considered a “West finalist in 2023”, but rather “capable of leading the Lakers until they get the Nuggets in the playoffs.”
Ham is the seventh coach fired by the Angels since Phil Jackson retired from the bench in 2011.
Once that decision was made, the directive (quotation mark gesture with fingers) angelina, in formProbably because (in order of appearance from greatest to least decision-making ability) Jeanie Buss, Linda Rambis, Kurt Rambis, Rob Pelinka, Joey Buss and Jesse Buss, they should begin the search for a new coach.
There was no rush since the Draft would not be held until a month and a half later (June 26), so during the first two weeks there were hardly any rumors. Around May 15, two names began to be heard insistently: James Borrego and JJ Redick.
(Keep the dates, please).
Borrego was always seen—at least that was my perception—as a straw man to be used for multiple objectives. Namely: giving the impression that the search for candidates included an extensive and studied selection process; not to cede all negotiating power to a single candidate, implying that there was someone else finalist for office; drop smoke bombs in the press.
The real target, as Shams Charania emphasized—more on his role in this story later—in early June, was JJ Redick.
And who the hell is JJ Redick to be considered the Lakers’ coach, you might say?
Former NBA player with 15 seasons in the league. 39 years.
So intelligent and with such good communication skills that he started a solo podcast interviewing players and ended up hired by ESPN to be a star commentator in the NBA Finals.
So knowledgeable about the game that he started a podcast with LeBron James to talk only about basketball and has ended up hired by the Lakers to dictate how they should play.
But let’s not get ahead of the final result. Let’s recreate the path that has led us here.
A month had passed since Ham’s dismissal and the position was still vacant. Why had an agreement not been reached with Redick if the first interview with him had been in Chicago on May 15?
There was already something that did not begin to add up and it is in June when several unexpected events develop.
June 4. Shams Charania assures that the Lakers are opting for Redick, although he also reports that the final decision has not been made. Adrian Wojnarowski Voivodeship For us from now on, he doesn’t write anything, which is, to say the least, surprising.
5th June. Redick appears on a podcast and is asked about the news that Charania had broken the day before. «Regarding the Shams, that will be addressed once the season ends. I’m just going to say that. “I’m just going to say that.” He neither confirms nor denies, but he does seem upset.
June 6th. Start day of the NBA Finals. Early morning American Woj appears on TV shows ESPN saying that the Lakers want as coach Dan Hurley, from UConn. That he has been the man that the franchise was looking for From the first moment even though they have interviewed other candidates. That they have persecuted him “relentlessly.” That Hurley is “literally the most sought-after coach in basketball.” He is not short on praise. Charania does not write anything.
June 7th. Wojnarowski advertises by land, sea and air that Hurley meets that day with Jeanie Buss and Pelinka. The focus of ESPN In the NBA it is divided between the Dallas and Boston Finals and the conversations between Hurley and the Lakers. Hmmmm…
8 of June. Wojnarowski reports the offer received by Hurley: $70 million for six seasons.
June 9. Wojnarowski Explain with hairs and signs what the meeting between Hurley and Lakers was like, the team vision that was presented to him and says that the coach will make a decision on Monday, although he is already giving clues that a “no” is a probable option, which means deviate from the line of information that he had followed until then.
June 10th. Dan Hurley confirm who stays at UConn. Wojnarowski can’t help but look upset that he turned down the offer, suggesting that there may be regret in the future (?). The Lakers, rejected, look bad in front of fans and the press. When you are supposed to be a lionhead, it is not usual for things to not go as you want.
11th of June. Charania Explain that Hurley was not the desired candidate and was pursued from the beginning, information contrary to that expressed by Woj.
June 13th. Dan Hurley spends Thursday doing a media tour explaining that the Lakers’ offer was real and that he thought about it thoroughly. He also lets it slip that on a financial level it was not tempting enough to be a decisive factor. But with UConn to the death, boy.
June 17. The NBA Finals end, Redick’s last day of work in ESPN as a commentator.
June 20th. Redick’s signing for the Lakers is leaked. In the information that Woj and Charania publish in their media, each of them insists on the different lines of argument that they have been defending for weeks. Woj: Hurley was actively pursued, Redick was slow to take seriously. Charania: Redick was the ideal candidate from the get-go.
Reviewed the timeline, I don’t know if you have realized that there are things that don’t add up. Many.
There are many unanswered questions.
Why did Dan Hurley emerge from nowhere as a candidate during the dawn of the NBA Finals?
If Dan Hurley was the desired candidate from the beginning, how did you keep his name from being leaked for more than a month?
If Dan Hurley was the desired candidate from the beginning, why for a month did Rob Pelinka only meet in person and virtually with…
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2024-06-25 09:00:00
#Unanswered #questions #Redick #signing #Lakers
