Lakers' top head-coaching targets revealed

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to search for a new head coach. They relieved Darvin Ham of his duties after a first-round exit at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. The current talent pool is slim when looking for experienced coaches, so Rob Pelinka and the front office have to cast a wide net. 

According to Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic, three names have emerged as early front-runners. 

"As the Los Angeles Lakers begin contacting head coaching candidates and scheduling interviews this week, JJ Redick, James Borrego and Sam Cassell have emerged as the franchise’s initial leading targets, league sources told The Athletic," Charania and Buha reported.

Of those three, only James Borrego has previous head-coaching experience. Sam Cassell is a widely respected assistant coach who could be on the verge of helping the Boston Celtics win a championship. JJ Redick, on the other hand, has no coaching experience but continues to find himself in the running for head-coaching positions.

During his tenure with the Charlotte Hornets, Borrego proved himself to be one of the better offensive-minded coaches in the NBA. He innovated with his systems and got the best out of a young and inexperienced roster. However, rumors continue to link Redick with the role. His friendship with LeBron James could be a significant factor. 

Los Angeles must make a decision that's in the best interest of the entire roster. Placating James has failed to yield the desired results in recent years. Redick may be an exciting option, but his lack of experience, especially compared to Borrego and Cassell, should be a warning. The Lakers job is one of the most pressurized roles in the world. They need a steady hand. 

While Borrego, Redick and Cassell are the current top names in the team's search, things are still likely to change. The Lakers have plenty of time to do their due diligence. 

Given their inability to build on their 2020 championship, they must get this decision right, even if that means upsetting their star player by going against his wishes.