Lakers Now Seriously Considering Hiring Monty Williams Over JJ Redick?

The Los Angeles Lakers are on the verge of hiring their next head coach. Weeks removed from parting ways with Darvin Ham, the organization seems prepared to move forward.

For much of June, former player and current ESPN broadcaster J.J. Redick has been viewed as the frontrunner for the Lakers’ opening. Dan Hurley was briefly involved with the process, but given that his wife literally cried at the prospect of him taking the job, he was never a truly feasible option.

As soon as Hurley announced he was returning to UConn, the assumption was that L.A. would immediately hire Redick.

And surely enough, on Tuesday, Lakers insider Anthony Irwin reported that Redick-to-Los Angeles was a done deal.

On Wednesday, circumstances changed a bit. Why? Because the Detroit Pistons made the surprising decision to fire Monty Williams one year into the richest deal ever given an NBA head coach.

Following his termination from the Phoenix Suns, Williams landed a six-year deal worth $78.5 million from Detroit. The hope was that he would be able to return that franchise to some semblance of respectability.

He couldn’t.

The Pistons finished last year with a 14-68 mark. That coupled with Williams’ propensity for beefing with some of his players led to his ouster this week.

How does all this relate to the Lakers?

Well, some are speculating that the front office might take a serious look at a coach who just a couple of years ago won the league’s Coach of the Year award.

“I know we’ve been talking a lot about J.J. Reddick, but with Monty Williams available, that is a situation that the Los Angeles Lakers should look at, okay? So I would definitely say that as well,” Stephen A. Smith said today on First Take.

“They should look at it. Obviously, Jeannie Buss, you know how much I love Jeannie Buss I’m rooting for her to find the right person for the job. Respect Rob Pelinka, what he’s going to do, you know, and yes, I respect Kurt Rambis too.

“I was joking around about him earlier, but I respect him too. So listen, they’re all going to be a part of the process and we’ll see what happens. And, you know, I think Monty Williams definitely should be a candidate for that job.”

“With Monty Williams available, that is a situation the Los Angeles Lakers should look at.”

Stephen A. Smith with a last ditch effort to keep JJ Redick at ESPN? pic.twitter.com/QHdKn9CXkj

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 19, 2024

For what is worth, Shams Charania said on Thursday that the Lakers weren’t seriously considering Williams. In his estimation, Redick is still the frontrunner for the vacancy left behind by Ham.

“I have not gotten the sense yet that Monty Williams is in the picture here,” Charania said.

“I haven’t gotten the sense that Monty Williams is gonna be in the picture for the Lakers”@ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/5nKuINjOL3

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 19, 2024

That said – Charania seemed totally out of the loop on the Hurley thing. He appears to be pushing hard for Redick. To the point where it may be influencing his judgement.

Williams is very much in the hunt for the Lakers job. Will he end up getting it, though? Time will tell.