Los Angeles gets their roster and coaching staff in order, as they prepare for a new season.

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Fresh off re-signing NBA legend LeBron James for a 1+1 deal, the Los Angeles Lakers shored up new head coach JJ Redick’s staff with two Portland Trail Blazers alumni. Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks have been hired as the experienced assistants on the bench.

McMillan was Portland’s head coach from 2005-2012, coaching the ill-fated core of Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden. finishing with a record of 266-269. He then coached the Indiana Pacers for seven years, before settling in as the lead assistant in Atlanta. However, he was suddenly promoted to head coach, and led the Hawks to a shocking 2021 Eastern Conference Finals appearance. The team regressed afterward, and he was fired 18 months later at the 2023 All-Star Break.

Scott Brooks just finished a three-year stint in Portland as head coach Chauncey Billups’ lead assistant. The Blazers looked like they were trying to build around All-Star Damian Lillard, but instead the team regressed further, and went into a rebuild after trading their star. The Blazers’ combined record under Billups/Brooks was 81-165 with no playoff appearances. Prior to his time in Portland, Brooks was best known as the former coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were unable to win a title with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. He also was the head coach for the Washington Wizards.

The Lakers are attempting to make a return to their glory years, featuring a 2020 NBA Championship. However, they added no player of significance this offseason in either free agency or the NBA Draft.

Unconfirmed reports state that former Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, who accepted the role of lead assistant with the Golden State Warriors, turned down the Lakers’ multiple overtures to join them in a coaching capacity.