Mike Krzyzewski has been an unofficial resource for the Los Angeles Lakers during their head coaching search, sources tell The Athletic.

Krzyzewski nearly joined the Lakers as head coach in 2004 on a five-year, $40 million contract.

J.J. Redick, who played at Duke under Krzyzewski, is one of the candidates being considered by the Lakers.

JJ Redick, James Borrego and Sam Cassell have emerged as the initial leading candidates for the Los Angeles Lakers' head coaching search, sources tell Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic. 

The Lakers are looking for a coach that is equipped to both guide the end of LeBron James' career while also remaining in place with Anthony Davis.

“This should be more of a hire about AD than LeBron,” said one source.

The Lakers want a coach who can command the locker room as well as gameplan and provide a level of organization and structure.

Mike Krzyzewski has become an unofficial resource for the Lakers during this search. 

Other candidates includeKenny Atkinson, David Adelman, Micah Nori and Chris Quinn.

Rob Pelinka is reportedly looking for the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers to have the characteristic of a "grinder," sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

With the Lakers expected to begin contacting coaching candidates in the coming days, James Borrego and JJ Redick are two prominent candidates for the role. 

The Lakers are also expected to interview Heat assistant Chris Quinn.

LeBron James has deemphasized the importance of playing alongside his son, Bronny James, both in public comments and the reporting surrounding the situation. Bronny James' draft standing has come into question over the past few months after a cardiac situation last summer and an uneven season at USC.

The Los Angeles Lakers do have interest in adding Bronny James to their roster, but they are not preparing to use their first round pick on him.

"I think if the Lakers have an opportunity to draft Bronny James, they will do so. Whether that's with the 55th pick, or if they make another deal around the draft where they pick up another pick, I think they will try. I don't think it is going to be their top priority. I don't think the league right now is looking at this like if you draft Bronny James and you can get LeBron."

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to ramp up the process of hiring their next head coach this week. The Lakers, like all teams, are in Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine this week. Los Angeles is expected to begin asking permission to interview assistant coaches, while also deciding what other candidates to bring in. Two prominent candidates for the Lakers are James Borrego and JJ Redick.

Borrego is currently an assistant coach with the New Orleans Pelicans. Before joining the Pelicans, he was the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets for four seasons. Borrego went 138-163 with Charlotte, but his team improved to 43-39 in his final season in 2021-22. While with the Pelicans, Borrego has been credited with improving the offense, which has seen New Orleans play through Zion Williamson more often.

Redick has no coaching experience. He retired as a player in 2021. Since then, Redick has worked in the media as a podcast host, studio analyst and now as an analyst on ESPN's top announcing team. Teams respect Redick's understanding of the game, and his approach of marrying analytics to traditional tactics. Redick is also respected by Lakers star LeBron James, who co-host a basketball podcast with the former NBA shooting guard.

The Los Angeles Lakers have interest in assistants Micah Nori, David Adelman, Sean Sweeney, and Chris Quinn as possible candidates to fill their vacant head coach position, reported Jovan Buha on Buha's Block.

Buha adds that the Lakers are not in the stage of interviewing candidates, but they do plan to name a coach by the NBA Draft on June 26.

The organization met earlier this week to establish the criteria for the next head coach.

JJ Redick and Kenny Atkinson remain candidates for the open position.

Ty Lue would be the Lakers' top choice should be become available, though it appears unlikely at this point.

The Los Angeles Lakers are holding internal meetings to establish their criteria for the next head coach, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

After firing Darvin Ham last week, the team has yet to request permission to interview assistant coaches thus far.

Stein reported last week that the team does not anticipate being able to hire Ty Lue.

ESPN is also reportedly "increasingly concerned" about losing JJ Redick from its NBA Finals broadcast team.

Christian Wood has exercised his $3 million player option for the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Wood signed a two-year deal with the Lakers last summer, that included a player option for next season.

Wood appeared in 50 games in his first season in Los Angeles. He averaged 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game off the Lakers bench.

The Los Angeles Lakers had their eyes set on two former Lakers to replace Darvin Ham as their next head coach. However, the Lakers have seemingly given up hope of hiring either Ty Lue or Jason Kidd to fill their coaching spot.

Reports are that the Lakers have no expectations that Lue or Kidd will be available for hire. It's been rumored that Kidd will sign an extension with the Dallas Mavericks, following the team advancing to second round of the playoffs.

The LA Clippers have made it known that they intend to do whatever it takes to keep Lue on their sideline. For his part, Lue has said he prefers to stay with the Clippers and has no interest in jumping to a new team.

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell was fined $25,000 for verbally abusing a game official. The incident took place after the Los Angeles Lakers loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.