The Los Angeles Lakers are going to be a kid at a candy store this offseason. After Mark Walter bought the majority ownership stake in the franchise, the Lakers suddenly have money to burn. They should use a portion of it on bringing in the perfect assistant coach for JJ Redick.
Lakers fans wish the NBA was more like MLB. There are far less restrictions regarding what a rich ownership group can do for an organization there. The second apron quickly settles this conversation down a decent bit.
However, there are other ways in which this money can materialize for Los Angeles. Those key areas can be places like the front office and the coaching staff.
Tom Thibodeau was let go from his head coaching position for the New York Knicks after the team lost in the Eastern Conference Finals. There are plenty of flaws to Thibodeau as a head coach. However, as an assistant, Redick would get some much-needed support from the veteran mind.
Thibodeau can bring the recipe to jumpstart elite Lakers defense
The idea of adding Thibodeau to the coaching staff is one that has been floated in Laker land a fair bit. It was something that even came up on an episode of Buha's Block.
"I have not heard anything on that," Jovan Buha said to the disappointment of Lakers fans. "I think it would be a good fit. ... We've seen the result of him being a defensive coordinator with Boston and how they won a championship. ... He was one of the architects of one of the best defenses of all time."
Buha did admit that the Boston Celtics certainly had the personnel to play up to that standard as well. That is something Rob Pelinka would need to assist with. However, the promise of an elite unit has shown its flashes in Los Angeles already.
"He would be by far the best assistant that the Lakers would have on their staff if they added him," Buha said with conviction.
There was another conversation that followed which focused on the need to add an offensive-minded assistant as well. With the new ownership group having the money to spend, why not do both?
The Athletic recently highlighted Walter's willingness to part ways with employees if there are better choices available. Those options will be there this summer. They will also represent one of the quickest ways this new ownership group can make their mark on the Lakers.