The Los Angeles Lakers face a difficult situation. They recently suffered a devastating 4-1 first-round loss to the Denver Nuggets, a series in which they held the lead for the majority of the time but were unable to seal the game despite LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ best efforts. This followed the same Nuggets team’s sweep in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, which prompted the Lakers’ executive management to fire Darvin Ham and replace him with rookie head coach JJ Redick.
Despite ESPN’s skepticism, Redick’s impact on the Lakers continues to be debated. ESPN released its estimates for the 2024-25 season on Thursday, categorizing Western Conference teams from strong contenders to bottom-tier. According to estimates, the Lakers are projected to fall to the lowest levels of the conference next season, missing the playoffs with a 44-38 record.
The Lakers’ unremarkable preseason may have clinched their fate before the season even began. The hunt for a coach ended with the questionable choice of Dan Hurley, but Redick was eventually hired, despite speculation at the time of Ham’s firing. Redick’s podcast speak with with James fueled speculation that James affected the front office’s decision, though this has yet to be substantiated.
