The Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said his primary mission for the closing stretch of the regular season is to pinpoint nine players willing to “fight” together in the postseason. The statement came on April 7, 2026, after the Lakers fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena.
Los Angeles is navigating the loss of its two top scorers, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who are sidelined indefinitely. Their absence forces Redick to experiment with lineups and rotations over the final three games before the playoffs begin.
Redick’s sense of urgency was evident when he used an early timeout to remove forward Rui Hachimura, later explaining that the forward “didn’t do his job.” The coach said he will not hesitate to sit anyone who fails to meet the standard he expects.
“We have to prepare the group we have available to play in a playoff series,” Redick told reporters. He added that postseason seeding became a secondary concern after the loss to Oklahoma City.
Core options set, final spots open
Six players are considered locks for the playoff rotation: LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Hachimura. Center Jaxson Hayes is also expected to see minutes, depending on matchups.
The remaining places are up for grabs. Rookie guard Bronny James has logged heavier minutes recently, while Adou Thiero, Kobe Bufkin and Dalton Knecht offer alternative backcourt looks. Veterans Maxi Kleber and Jarred Vanderbilt are additional front-court options.
Two-way players Nick Smith Jr., Drew Timme and Chris Mañon are not eligible for playoff action unless converted to standard contracts, a move that would require releasing another player.
Doncic pushing to return
Despite his left hamstring strain, Doncic remains hopeful of joining the team later in the postseason. The superstar traveled to Europe to accelerate his rehabilitation, and Redick described him as motivated and in good spirits.
The Lakers have three regular-season games left to finalize Redick’s nine-man unit before Game 1 of the opening playoff series.
Source: Lakers Nation
