JJ Redick just made his first big move to shake up the Lakers’ staff, bringing Zach Guthrie onboard as an assistant coach and head of player development. This isn’t just a routine hire either. The organization is rewarding Guthrie directly for his stellar work with the South Bay team, which absolutely tore it up last season, grabbing the G-League’s best record. It’s a clear signal: the Lakers are serious about developing talent and they’re bringing in a guy who just proved he can get it done.
Guthrie’s Track Record Speaks Volumes
This isn’t Guthrie’s first rodeo in the NBA. He has a solid history as an assistant coach, logging time under some serious names. He worked with Quin Snyder at the Utah Jazz from 2016 to 2020, then Rick Carlisle with the Dallas Mavericks from 2020 to 2021, and even spent a chunk of time with the Washington Wizards from 2021 to 2024. But it was last season with South Bay where he really shined, taking on that head coaching role and proving his chops in player development. He was instrumental in shaping guys like Drew Timme, Chris Manon, Kobe Bufkin, Summer League standout Arthur Kaluma, along with Bronny James and Adou Thiero. That’s a strong list of guys he helped bring along.
Redick’s Depth Plea Gets a Shot in the Arm
Now, Guthrie has the critical task of continuing to help develop James and Thiero, assuming James is still with the squad, plus Cameron Carr and two-way player AK Okereke. This move lines up perfectly with what Redick himself was preaching at the end of the 2025-2026 season. Redick stressed the absolute necessity for roster depth if the Lakers want to compete with the Western Conference juggernauts. He put it plainly: “I don’t necessarily need depth as a rotation thing. Whether you play eight or nine, or whether you play 11 or 12, you need to have depth.” Redick went on to explain that this depth typically fills out roster spots 10 through 15, and it comes from internal development, the Draft, trades, or free agency. He highlighted the reality of injuries, saying, “You sit there and you plan all summer of how your team is supposed to play and look, maybe five games out of the 92 games we played, it was something I had planned over the offseason.” He admitted many times he’d be in a timeout, looking at a lineup he “never expected.”
The Lakers definitely heard him, delivering five major signings after losing a good chunk of talent in free agency. Now, with Guthrie on board, Redick has the challenge, and the opportunity, to work with a completely new set of talent. The pressure is on Redick to show he can not only work with these new pieces, but actually raise the team’s ceiling. The next step is figuring out who fills that G-League vacancy, whether they promote from within or hire another outside voice, just like they did with Guthrie.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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