JJ Redick Talks Lakers Rumors, Says HC Buzz 'Will Be Addressed' After NBA Finals

ESPN analyst JJ Redick declined to offer any insight when asked about new rumors linking him with the Los Angeles Lakers' coaching vacancy.

"My focus right now is on calling the NBA Finals," he said Wednesday on GoJo and Golic.

Redick added the speculation about his future "will be addressed once the season is over."

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Tuesday that the 39-year-old has emerged as the front-runner for the Lakers and is "their leading choice at this stage."

ESPN's Brian Windhorst slightly pumped the brakes on the idea that Redick's hiring is a fait accompli. He said on Get Up that things are trending that way but it isn't a "done deal."

Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports first noted Los Angeles' coaching search could drag into June thanks in part due to Redick working the NBA Finals for ESPN. The best-of-seven series between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks gets underway Thursday and could extend to June 23 if it goes the distance.

Of course, Redick's current job didn't preclude him from interviewing with the Lakers, and there's nothing stopping from them from choosing him without officially announcing it until after the Finals.

The former guard finds himself in a tough position because he has to analyze the Finals from the broadcast table while simultaneously being a central figure in one of the biggest stories surrounding the league.

Redick won't want to take the spotlight away from the NBA Finals too much, hence refraining from saying anything of consequence about Charania's report. There's also the difficulty of juggling his media duties with laying the groundwork for his potential arrival in L.A. Longtime NBA insider Marc Stein reported in May that some prospective candidates to join Redick's staff had already emerged.

For now, the Lakers and Redick are stuck in a holding pattern.