Listing Lakers coach JJ Redick’s top 5 priorities to address during preseason 

LA Lakers coach JJ Redick said in an interview during the franchise's media day that he’s ready to take on the tough task of guiding the team. Win or lose, he is embracing the accountability that goes with perhaps the most high-profile coaching job in the NBA.

“If there’s a sword that needs to be fallen on, I will gladly fall on the sword,” Redick told Lakers legend James Worthy.

Redick has already made a few initial outlines about what he wants to implement next season. Early on, he identified a few areas that need to be emphasized in training camp and preseason.

JJ Redick has also been open about making adjustments as the season progresses. How he remains flexible or stiff could have a big role in the team’s championship aspirations next season.

Here's a closer look at five areas JJ Redick will need to work on during the Lakers' training camp and preseason.

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Top 5 priorities JJ Redick has to address in Lakers’ training camp and preseason games

#5. Define Rui Hachimura’s role

Many in Laker Nation thought former coach Darvin Ham could have utilized Rui Hachimura better during Ham’s stint in LA. The Japanese forward played in 68 games, 39 as a starter. JJ Redick will not go that way next season, naming Hachimura a fixture in the starting five.

Redick told reporters that he envisions Hachimura to be an “excellent cutter” because the Lakers will be “incorporating movement and cutting” and “manipulating screening angles.”

This early in training camp, Redick could emphasize what he meant by that to Rui Hachimura. The former Washington Wizards star will also get his fair share of possessions when a smaller defender is switched on him, per Redick.

The Lakers’ new coach will look to make it abundantly clear what he wants Hachimura to do on offense.

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#4. Figure out who among the young players will get minutes

JJ Redick recently named his starting five and said he plans to have a nine-man rotation. Gabe Vincent, Max Christie, Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish and Jarred Vanderbilt are the veterans who will likely get a big part of the minutes off the bench.

LA’s roster, though, still has Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Lakers’ first-round pick last year, who needs playing time to develop. Dalton Knecht, the team’s No. 17 pick in 2024, is older than Christie and Hood-Schifino and will likely push for minutes as well.

Redick must figure out who among Christie, “JHS” and Knecht should get the minutes to make everyone’s roles clear.

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#3. Establish offensive rebounding as a key part of Lakers’ game

When JJ Redick was introduced as the LA Lakers’ coach, the former NBA sharpshooter emphasized offensive rebounding as an issue to fix next season. Los Angeles averaged 8.2 boards on offense last season, the worst in the league.

Redick’s plan might involve Anthony Davis jostling more underneath. Redick also envisions Rui Hachimura as a significant contributor to helping the team improve. If that’s where the coach wants to go, drilling this team about this is a must-do.

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#2. Implement the offense

Redick didn’t like Darvin Ham’s penchant for letting the LA Lakers figure out the offense on the fly. Redick said that instead of being more “random,” he would stress sets to improve the team’s efficiency.

The former ESPN analyst emphasized screens, angles, pindowns and pick-and-rolls as fixtures in his offense. Implementing what he wants to do on this side of the ball will be crucial.

The Lakers were a middle-of-the-pack team in offensive rating last season, averaging 115.4 ORTG. To do better, Redick needs his team’s communication and chemistry to be strengths. The offense has to be sorted out promptly.

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#1. JJ Redick has to lean on his top assistant coaches

NBA teams usually have one top assistant to help a head coach. The LA Lakers went out and hired two: Scott Brooks and Nate McMillan. Like JJ Redick, both are former players who transitioned to guiding a team on the sidelines. Unlike Redick though, Brooks and McMillan have tons of experience as head coaches.

Redick's plans and strategies for the Lakers are expected to be topnotch, but is sorely lacking experience. He has never been a coach at any level so he will be tested immediately.

Redick hired Brooks and McMillan to help him address his lack of coaching experience. He will likely have to lean on him in training camp, preseason and once the regular season starts.

How do you JJ Redick will fare in his first season as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.