Sources – Lakers hire JJ Redick to a four-year contract to coach the team

The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a four-year contract with JJ Redick to make him the franchise’s next head coach, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

Redick, an ESPN NBA analyst who played 15 years in the league, met with Lakers vice president and general manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss over the weekend, and talks about the vacancy continued throughout the week, sources said.

Pelinka offered Reddick the job Thursday morning, sources said.

Pelinka has become convinced of Redick’s ability to connect with players and his basketball IQ, and believes surrounding Redick with an elite coaching staff will help shorten his learning curve to his first coaching job, sources said.

Redick moved to the forefront of the search a week ago after the Lakers’ pursuit of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley was ultimately rejected.

Sources said that the Lakers offered Hurley a six-year contract worth $70 million, but he rejected it early last week.

As Pelinka sought with Hurley, he still wants a coach and coaching staff who will prioritize developing young players like Max Christie, Austin Reeves and Rui Hachimura and can design a creative approach to highlight Anthony Davis on both ends of the court, sources say. He said.

Redick has a strong relationship with Lakers star LeBron James, with whom he co-hosts a basketball podcast.