Although the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster from 2023–2024 may look comparable, major changes are happening behind the scenes. Apart from dismissing Darvin Ham and appointing JJ Redick as the new head coach, Los Angeles appears to be completely rethinking its overall approach to team-building.
On that front, the most important choice made so far this offseason was made in a quiet manner. It was a shocking shoe to drop.
The Lakers reorganized their coaching staff with an eye toward the future in addition to adding Redick. Up-and-coming players’ internal development is one of Redick’s major goals going ahead, and a recent move demonstrates how involved he plans to be in that area.
Dane Johnson, the head coach of the G League and Summer League, has left the South Bay Lakers, according to their official X account.
The South Bay Lakers have parted ways with Head Coach Dane Johnson.
Johnson led South Bay to a 26-24 overall record in the 2023-24 G League season. During his tenure as head coach, four players earned NBA Call-Ups.
— South Bay Lakers (@SouthBayLakers) August 9, 2024
While a 26–24 record is hardly cause for celebration, it is noteworthy that a number of Lakers players played in the G League in 2023–24 while working with Johnson.
The JJ Redick era of player development has begun with the departure of Dane Johnson. Johnson coached several players that played for the NBA-caliber Lakers between 2023 and 2024, such as Colin Castleton, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Maxwell Lewis. Hood-Schifino flourished during that period after the Lakers selected him at No. 17 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.
With Johnson and the South Bay Lakers, the 21-year-old averaged 22.0 points, 5.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.3 made three-pointers from outside the area (.473/.432/.800).
Castleton, on the other hand, recently had a breakthrough season at Summer League, when Johnson was once more his coach. Lewis is just in his second season of a four-year contract that is favorable to the team, therefore he has advanced a little more slowly than his teammates.
If developing potential is the aim, then Johnson is obviously capable of doing so; the timing is just bad because a new head coach has taken over.
Player development experts like Lindsey Harding and Greg St. Jean, who was with the Lakers when they assisted Alex Caruso in developing into a top-tier defender, have been hired by Redick. It makes sense that the Lakers’ next task will be to carry on with the G League recruiting process.
In any case, it’s a positive indication that Redick is spending his time building the greatest infrastructure to facilitate player development across the board.
After signing two-way contracts, Castleton, Blake Hinson, and Armel Traoré will be the starting lineup for the South Bay Lakers in 2024–25. In the process of honing his skills to become an NBA player, Bronny James might also play a stint in the G League.
The Redick era in Los Angeles has officially begun, as the Lakers are in the midst of a comprehensive overhaul of their talent development program. Unfortunately, that led to Johnson’s departure from the Lakers.
