J.J. Redick is considered by many to be the early favorite to become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The Lakers have been slow to advance their search, but have scheduled a number of interviews for the coming days. The Washington Wizards are the only other team to currently have a head coaching vacancy and are not believed to be considering the same candidates.

If Redick is hired by the Lakers, the timing of an announcement could be delayed until after the conclusion of The Finals. Redick is part of ESPN/ABC's lead broadcast team after he replaced Doc Rivers midseason when he returned to coaching with the Milwaukee Bucks. ESPN parted ways with their longtime lead analysts Jeff Van Gunde and Mark Jackson last summer.

Bronny James is more focused about establishing his NBA career than playing with his father LeBron James.

"I would be happy about getting to the league instead of me thinking about playing with my dad," Bronny James said. "That's not my mindset or not at all. I'm just trying to put in the work and see where it takes me from there."

Bronny James didn't grant interviews during his season at USC.

"Bronny was just a nickname that I was just given when I was younger," James said. "But everything that follows my dad, people just try to link me with that and all the greatness that he's achieved. I haven't done anything yet, so I feel like there needs to be that divide between Bronny and LeBron.

"Everyone's heard this before. I just want to have people know my name is Bronny James and not being identified as just LeBron James' son. I feel like that would great."

Donovan Mitchell faces a big decision this offseason when the Cleveland Cavaliers offer him a contract extension. If Mitchell chooses not to extend, a trade becomes possible and there are already several teams closely monitoring the situation due to their interest in acquiring him.

"The NBA, especially beginning with what Donovan says at the end of the season, is paying very close attention because multiple teams would love to make a huge offer to the Cavs if Donovan does not choose to extend his contract," said Brian Windhorst.

Mitchell has been non-committal on his future with the Cavaliers when asked about it during the season. Windhorst added that he doesn't expect Mitchell to explicitly indicate he would prefer to be traded.

The Cavaliers traded for Mitchell before the 21-22 season with the Utah Jazz also receiving interest at that time from teams such as the New York Knicks and Miami Heat. Mitchell can become a free agent in 2024.

"There is an optimism within that organization that they're going to sign him," said Windhorst of the Cavaliers. 

"There are a number of teams that have their offers ready," said Windhorst.

"Are the Lakers one?" asked Andraya Carter.

"They're ready, of course," said Windhorst.

"The Knicks?" asked Mike Greenberg.

"I don't think... the Knicks are trying win the Eastern Conference," replied Windhorst. "Certainly across the river there in Brooklyn."

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.