Windhorst: Lakers Watch LeBron James, JJ Redick's Podcast, See Connection amid Rumors

When your best player and a candidate to be your next head coach work together, it only makes sense that the team would keep a close eye on what they are doing.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on Thursday's episode of Get Up (starts at 2:45 mark) that members of the Los Angeles Lakers "see the connection" between LeBron James and JJ Redick because they are watching the duo's weekly podcast.

Windhorst did emphasize that James is distancing himself from having any input in the Lakers' coaching search. Redick has been the most-talked about candidate for the position since Darvin Ham was fired on May 3.

The Athletic's Jovan Buha and Shams Charania reported on Tuesday the Lakers have become "infatuated" with Redick's potential and view him as a "Pat Riley-like coaching prospect who could both help the franchise in the short term and lead it for years."

James and Redick used the Mind the Game Pod to talk a lot about basketball has evolved over the years, including discussions about why offense is better than it has ever been.

Buha and Charania noted Redick was among the first round of candidates the Lakers had a formal meeting with about becoming their head coach. James Borrego and Sam Cassell also met with the team, with David Adelman, Micah Nori and Chris Quinn expected to have a sit-down at some point.

Hovering over everything for the Lakers right now is James' future. His agent, Rich Paul, has said he expects him to return for his 22nd season.

Assuming James doesn't retire, his contract situation will need to be resolved. He has a $51.4 million player option that must be picked up by June 29. Declining the option would make him eligible to sign a three-year, $162 million deal with the Lakers.

Even though James could test free agency, the expectation is he will stay with the Lakers.

Whoever the Lakers eventually decide to hire as their next head coach will be tasked with navigating the immediate goal of maximizing what's left of James' career, assuming he stays, and the long-term goal of building a sustainable contender with Anthony Davis as the centerpiece of the roster.