NEWSLETTER
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Toronto Raptors have interviewed former player JJ Redick for their head coach vacancy.
Redick, 38, played 15 seasons in the NBA as a well-respected role player. The famous Duke alum was a 3-point specialist who shot 41.5 percent during his career from downtown. Before retiring, he spent his final two seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks.
Appearing in 110 playoff games between 2007-2019, Redick has undoubtedly played for his fair share of successful teams. He’s also gone on to host one of the more popular podcasts about the NBA titled The Old Man & the Three, as well as join ESPN as an analyst.
How far the Raptors’ interest in Redick actually extends is unknown. Many organizations will stretch their coaching searches far to cover all their bases. Not only is it a great way to gather intel and learn about different tactics, but it could help the team find a diamond in the rough. With Redick’s connections and extensive knowledge of the game, he might fall into that category.
With that said, I’d rather see an organization prioritize people with far more experience. There are so many intelligent and talented assistants or former coaches waiting for a door to open up. So for as much as I believe Redick could actually be a solid head coach one day, why can’t he start somewhere as an assistant?
Anyway, the Bulls will surely want to keep a close eye on who the Raptors end up hiring. Toronto has finished one spot ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings in each of the past two seasons. The two franchises are in a somewhat similar position with talented individual players that have struggled to find success collectively. Chances are that a roster shake-up could be on the horizon for both teams, but Toronto’s head coach hire could tell us more about how they plan to approach things.
