Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick believes recently signed two-way center Drew Timme can anchor parts of the team’s offense as the season unfolds.
Speaking after Timme’s brief NBA debut during the Nov. 8 blowout win against the L.A. Clippers at Crypto.com Arena, Redick said the former Gonzaga standout is likely to receive meaningful minutes once injuries or rest days open spots in the rotation.
“I would assume he’s gonna play for us at some point—that’s the purpose of the two-way,” Redick told reporters. “We’ve had 12-14 rostered guys in the rotation this year, so there are gonna be games where we have injuries and Drew is gonna get an opportunity.”
Passing from the High Post
Redick, one of the NBA’s top three-point shooters during his playing days, highlighted Timme’s ability to facilitate offense from the elbows and high post—an element the Lakers have rarely featured outside of Anthony Davis.
“I think he’s tremendously skilled offensively,” the coach said. “We haven’t really had a big here as a hub, a passing guy you can play out of the high post with. AD, to an extent, but a lot of what we ran for him there was to get him a shot, not to be a playmaker.”
Underrated on the Glass
Beyond playmaking, Redick pointed to Timme’s work on the boards. “The thing that’s kind of underrated with him is his defensive rebounding—it’s really good, particularly for his size,” he noted. “He’s produced at every level, and I’m looking forward to coaching him.”
Path to the Lakers
Timme, 24, started the 2025-26 campaign with the South Bay Lakers before receiving a promotion to a two-way deal. He spent part of last season with the Brooklyn Nets, giving him more professional experience than most players on two-way contracts. The Lakers’ cautious approach to injuries should create chances for the 6-10 forward-center to log NBA minutes as the marathon season progresses.
Eyes on the Emirates NBA Cup
Timme was on the bench when Los Angeles clinched West Group B of the inaugural Emirates NBA Cup with the victory over the Clippers, securing a place in the knockout stage. While Redick reiterated that winning an NBA championship remains the franchise’s ultimate objective, he said the team is motivated to capture the league’s new in-season tournament as well.
For now, the focus is on integrating Timme into a roster that has already turned undrafted two-way players such as Alex Caruso and Austin Reaves into key contributors. Redick is optimistic the rookie big man could be the next success story.
Source: Lakers Nation
