The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to make a major change to a part of their coaching staff. The team had a disappointing end to JJ Redick's first season as the Lakers' head coach. The Lakers lost their first-round series to the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1. The differences between the two teams and their styles of play were glaring, so much so that Redick is looking to make a big change to part of the training staff.
The Lakers are looking to add a head strength and conditioning coach this offseason. Coach Redick stated that the team drastically needs to get in "championship shape" coming into the 2025-2026 season. Surprisingly, the Lakers posted this job opening on Teamworkonline. This was even to the surprise of the staff from ESPN's show, GetUp.
Lakers' superstar Luka Doncic has been critiqued for not being in shape during the season. Doncic is not letting the criticism bother him, and he is currently working on getting himself in shape during the offseason. Doncic also made positive remarks about his head coach, JJ Redick.
"I think he’s a hell of a coach. Not many coaches do the stuff he did in his first year, his rookie year or however you want to say it. So I’m really glad I got to be coached by him these couple of months. I feel sometimes like I’m back in Europe a little bit, so I love it. We have a great bond. It’s been nothing but amazing with him as a coach."Luka Doncic on JJ Redick
In my opinion, the Lakers should consider hiring a strength and conditioning Coach who is already respected in professional basketball circles. Preferably, a coach already has established relationships with players on their roster. One name that comes to mind is LeBron James' trainer, who is already on the Lakers' staff, Mike Mancias.
Mancias is a respected trainer around NBA circles. He has been training James his entire career and has gone with him on every stop in his career. This would be a seamless hire and someone who has the results and credentials to go behind his name. He would undoubtedly have the Lakers' team in "championship shape".
Another name the Lakers should consider adding is Lakers' former assistant coach and director of player development, Phil Handy. Handy also has relationships with a lot of the Lakers' players. He even trains some of them in the offseason, helping them stay in shape and working on some of their movements on the court.
The addition of Handy and Mancias to the Lakers' fold could pay huge dividends for the Lakers, and it's clearly something they should consider.