Can JJ Redick be up to the task? Can he get more out of the same Lakers roster?

EL SEGUNDO — Dalton Knecht. Bronnie James.

That’s it for the changes to the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster this season, two rookies who may not be part of the regular rotation (Knecht has a chance if he shoots threes like the Lakers hope and shows he can do more than just that). Essentially, the Lakers are running it back with a roster that won 47 games last season, ended up in the play-in and then was unceremoniously bounced by Denver in the first round.

The Lakers are counting on another change: JJ Redick as coach.

Lakers management has made a big bet that Redick — a rookie coach at any professional or college level — is the key to both unlocking this roster and getting the Lakers back to the top of the West, as well as something build something sustainable to carry them past whenever. LeBron James decides to hang up his Nikes.

It’s a huge question.

Can JJ Redick be up to the task?

WHAT IS DIFFERENT UNDER REDICK?

Former coach Darvin Ham’s name wasn’t mentioned at Lakers media day, but a lot of shade was quietly thrown his way. It was reflected in the way players praised Redick’s attention to detail.

D’Angelo Russell said he felt like the team was “working on it” last summer, but this year there was a lot more structure.

“I’m not one to compare, but so far it’s been very detailed,” Cam Reddish said.

That’s great for summer workouts, but what should Lakers fans expect when the games start?

A lot more three-pointers. It shouldn’t be shocking that one of the best pure shooters of a generation wants his team to launch more 3s. It’s also the right tactical move: Joe Mazzula’s Celtics launched three times more three-pointers per game than any team in the league last season (47.1% of their shots in the league), and while this isn’t the only reason that they had the best offense in the NBA last season, it’s part of it.

The Lakers ranked second-to-last in the league in shooting percentage from 3 (35.8%). If there’s one thing players say Redick has preached, it’s that more 3s are needed.

“Even during the Olympics, when I made a 3, he texted me, ‘That’s what I want to see,’ stuff like that,” Lakers center Anthony Davis said. “So it will definitely be more shooting threes for him.”

The Lakers shot 37.7% from 3 last season (eighth best in the league), they have the shooters, those guys just have to make the shots.

More movement in attack. Redick doesn’t want LeBron James – or D’Angelo Russell, or Austin Reaves – to pound the ball above the top of the key, call a big for a pick and run basic pick-and-roll sets all game. He wants a lot more movement off the ball, including from the 39-year-old LeBron.

More shot creation from people other than LeBron. A lot is asked of LeBron as a tone setter and primary shot creator; something he showed at the Paris Olympics is that he is still capable of performing at the highest level. But it’s one thing to play five games for 25 minutes a night with almost no travel, it’s another to do it during the marathon of the 82-game NBA season.

Redick is looking for other players to step up and create more shot attempts – LeBron won’t always bring the ball up and initiate the offense or simply run a pick-and-roll. The offense will run more through Anthony Davis, while players like Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell will have more playing responsibilities. Whether they are ready leads to the other topic about this team.

IS THE LAKERS ROSTER GOOD ENOUGH?

Talent wins in the NBA. Flat out.

It’s fair to ask if the Lakers are close enough to winning more than they did a season ago, or close to the level they expect? If not, will it matter much what Redick does, because how far he can go with this team could be limited by what the front office hasn’t done this offseason?

As training camp begins and there is optimism around the league, the Lakers obviously don’t see it that way.

“We have a lot of confidence in these 15 players,” Laker GM Rob Pelinka said. “I think the inverse of change or overhaul is continuity, and I think continuity can be very successful in sports. This is a core group that made it to the Western Conference finals (in 2023). We had Gabe Vincent or ( Jarred Vanderbilt) last year for entire seasons. If you add two players like that, there’s a Delta, I think there will be internal growth.”

Health was a big topic during the Lakers’ media day and how a lack thereof cut them off at the knees a year ago.

It’s true that the Lakers were without key players for much of last season, and backup center Christian Wood will be starting this season after knee surgery. However, the Lakers also got 147 games from Davis and LeBron, which isn’t a given given their ages and injury histories (the pair played 108 games last season but were healthy for the playoffs and the Lakers reached the Western Conference finals). under the fired Darvin Ham.

“I think if we’re healthy and can stay healthy all season, we can be a top team in the West,” Davis said. “The things we can do on both ends of the field are and then you add Gabe and Vando and C Wood, I think that helps. But if we get hit by the injury bug again then it’s going to be difficult .

FANTASY IMPACT OF REDICK

From Noah Rubin of NBC Sports:

Most teams looking to compete with aging stars won’t bring in a first-year head coach, especially one who has never been an assistant coach. The Nets tried with Steve Nash, and it was a disaster. However, Redick seems up to the task.

He has already revealed his starting lineup, which includes D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He’s also talked about how Dalton Knecht is an elite shooter, and what coach would be better to maximize the Lakers’ first-round pick than one of the best motion shooters in NBA history?

They are running things back with largely the same squad after winning 47 games last season. However, Rob Pelinka did indicate that they will be open to moving their future first-round picks if it will help them gain “sustained Lakers excellence.” What does that look like? It’s unclear, but it appears they are open for business, which may not happen until after the trade deadline.

This team is capable of winning 50 games (just three more than last year), but a lot of that will fall on Redick’s shoulders. There won’t be a coaching situation more closely watched by fans and media this season. Everyone will be watching to see if the former podcaster can make the jump to leading an NBA franchise.