Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show (YouTube link), Shams Charania of The Athletic said James Borrego‘s second interview for the job — which took place on Wednesday — included meeting the team’s ownership. A former head coach of the Hornets, Borrego is currently the Pelicans’ top assistant.
“At the end of the day, if there are any finalists, it’s likely going to be J.J. Redick and James Borrego,” Charania said. “James Borrego is someone Anthony Davis is fond of. And James Borrego is someone that understands that the Lakers have to continue to win with Anthony Davis at the helm.
“He’s 31 years old, he’s in the prime of his career. He’s gonna be a Laker — as long as all the stars align — longer than LeBron James is gonna be a Laker. LeBron has one, two more years left at the most in his career. Anthony Davis has a longer runway. So building an offense around AD, having a team of player development, those are things — from what I’m told — that James Borrego has stressed to the Lakers.”
Despite characterizing Borrego as a serious candidate and a potential finalist, Charania reiterated that Redick is widely viewed as the frontrunner for the job, saying the Lakers “have an infatuation level” with the former sharpshooter as a head coach.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- While Los Angeles plans to be “aggressive” in seeking upgrades this summer, it remains unclear if the team will pursue a third star to pair with James and Davis or upgrade the role players surrounding them, writes Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Whichever route the Lakers take, they would prefer to retain Austin Reaves, whose strong showings in the playoffs the past two years “have affirmed his fit” with the team’s stars, sources tell Buha.
- According to Buha, the Lakers are willing to offer James whatever he wants on his next contract, with picking up his $51.4MM player option still considered a possibility. Buha also confirms that James is expected to play one or two more seasons.
- In a mailbag on his YouTube channel (video link), Buha said that the Lakers likely “aren’t actively shopping” Rui Hachimura but noted that his mid-sized contract is a logical salary-matching piece if they want to make roster upgrades. Buha added that Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent could be viewed in a similar way — Hachimura just makes more money.
- Responding to another mailbag question, Buha said he isn’t sure, but he doesn’t think the Lakers would have interest in revisiting trade talks for Zach LaVine this summer. Buha views LaVine as a step down from some other maximum-salary players, particularly due to his injury history.
Literally no team wants Zach LaVine. He has negative trade value.
I love that term negative trade value. LaVine if memory serves me once poured in 50. Still capable of taking over a game and seemed disinterested in perennial loser bulls.
Agreed
It could be my own bias but I don’t see Redick as someone who can get buy in from players. He doesn’t strike me as that type.
Redick is a legend in his own mind.
A Legend in his own living room
A legend in his own NBA 2k save file
Eventually every “sports journalist” will regurgitate the same garbage information about the Lakers dismal offseason plans. Hire and fire your next damn(ed) coach already and let’s keep our fingers crossed it’s one more QUICK season for Brawny Sensation.
I expert the Lakers to win the championship next year. Why? Because
Lakers have 3 future Firsts available for trade
3 Upgrades
Vincent and a future first for a defensive player – upgrade
Dlo and a future first for a star – upgrade
Rui and a future first for a two-way player – upgrade
Does anyone disagree?
No
The Lakers are in a worse spot than Philly is right now…
Reeves might be their version of Maxey, for some youth hype…
But having to build around an often injured big man in their 30s is risky… The window of contention with AD as a star isn’t that much longer than LeBrons career window… Maybe 4 years at best with a very rosy outlook, with LeBron there for 2 of those years…
Most big men turn into role players as they slow down in their mid 30s… That age 35 season isn’t that far away…
Your reeves to Maxey comparison added to any Jojo to Davis comparison makes your point dismissed. All the rest is nonsense.
C’mon LeBron make your coaching decision already.
Lakers likely aren’t winning a title anytime soon with Bron and AD. So Imagine a lakers full rebuild.
Anthony Davis to OKC, they have an insane amount of first round draft picks they could offer plus a couple youngsters maybe and he’d be exactly what they need.
AD for Giddey, Deing, this years first (12th overall), and say 3 future first aswell.
Then zero chance LeBron stays, sign and trade him back to Cleveland. They need his experience and are rumoured to be shopping next to all their players apart from Mobley.
LeBron and 2 firsts for Garland and Allen
Get Dlo to opt out in FA now they you’ve got about a rebuild.
Lakers then line up:
Garland Reaves Hachimura Vanderbilt Allen
Giddey Christie Deing …. ….
Plus you’ve got 2 future firsts
Gives fans hope they can do something again going in a new direction. A backcourt of Garland and Reaves sounds really nice and Allen provides enough rim protection and rebounding you can play both Rui and Vando together.
OKC would be close to title favourites
SGA Dort JDub Chet AD
As would Cleveland
Spida Strus LeBron …. Mobley
… LeVert Niang Wade …
Nobody is trading into this years draft. Keep dreaming though.
The Lakers will retool, but they won’t rebuild. They have LeBron and AD, and that gives them a chance. When you’re trying to sell tickets in the LA market, that chance, regardless of how strong it is, will be worth a lot more than dreams of a contender three years down the road. That matters, because there are a lot of other things to do in LA. You can’t rebuild the way you would in a city like OKC, for instance. It doesn’t work. The Lakers tried twice, and neither time went well.