The Los Angeles Lakers have begun the formal interview process to find their next head coach. Los Angeles has meet with a few candidates, and has meetings set up with several others. However, JJ Redick is starting to stand out among the pool of candidates.

The Lakers are reportedly "infatuated" with the idea of Redick as their next head coach. They see Redick as a Pat Riley-like coaching prospect who could lead the franchise for years.

Los Angeles has also interviewed James Borrego and Sam Cassell. They also plan to interview David Adelman, Micah Nori and Chris Quinn.

LeBron James is reportedly not involved in the process of identifying the team's next head coach. Los Angeles views the next head coach as more of a hire for a team led by Anthony Davis, than a team led by James.

The Houston Rockets are monitoring the potential availability of Donovan Mitchell should he decide not to sign an extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

The Rockets are believed to be more interested in a star of Mitchell's quality rather than other potentially available players such as Brandon Ingram and Mikal Bridges.

The Rockets are well-positioned to make a major trade with their rostered young players and future draft capital, both in terms of their own picks and those belonging to the Brooklyn Nets. The Rockets also own the No. 3 overall pick in this year's draft via the Nets.

Mitchell can become a free agent in 2025 and has most strongly been linked with the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat if he ends up not signing long-term with the Cavaliers. 

Kristaps Porzingis could return rom his calf injury as early as Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Porzingis has been making progress with the injury and accelerating his on-court ramp up.

Porzingis suffered the injury in Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs.

The Boston Celtics will maintain a conservative approach with the return of Porzingis.

The Orlando Magic have interest in signing D'Angelo Russell this offseason, sources tell Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Russell has an $18.7 million player option for the 24-25 season with the Los Angeles Lakers that he is expected to decline.

Russell outperformed expectations with the Lakers this past season and would give the Magic a point guard capable of playing off the ball as a spot-up shooter.

The NBA has announced its 23-24 All-Defensive Teams, headlined by Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama.

NBA All-Defense First Team
• Rudy Gobert
• Bam Adebayo
• Victor Wembanyama
• Anthony Davis
• Herb Jones

NBA All-Defense Second Team
• Alex Caruso
• Jrue Holiday
• Jaden McDaniels
• Jalen Suggs
• Derrick White

The New York Knicks can offer Jalen Brunson a four-year, $156 million contract extension this offseason and Newsday reports he is expected to sign it.

The extension will remove the fourth season from his current deal and tie him to the Knicks for the next five seasons.

Brunson could alternatively wait one offseason and sign a five-year, $270 million extension in the summer of 2025.

The Knicks signed Brunson during the 2022 offseason on a four-year, $107 million deal.

While the Phoenix Suns had a disappointing season and need to upgrade their roster around Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the franchise doesn't want to trade its stars and there are no trade requests coming.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith fueled rumors of Booker potentially wanting to play for the New York Knicks, but there were to subsequent reports by any other media members to back up the assertion. The Suns went on to hire Mike Budenholzer to replace Frank Vogel, and Phoenix is set to run it back.

"I know Stephen A. Smith mentioned Devin Booker," said Zach Lowe on his podcast. "I continue to hear, regardless of what Mat Ishbia and James Jones say publicly about 'We're not trading anybody,' I continue to hear that there is no Devin Booker, like, trade request coming. Not in the foreseeable future anyway."

Booker cannot become a free agent until 2028.

The San Antonio Spurs are believed to be high on Stephon Castle of UConn, sources tell Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

The Spurs own the No. 4 and No. 8 pick in the draft.

Castle is considered a high upside defensive player with good shot creation off the dribble. Castle will need to develop his perimeter shooting to reach his overall potential. 

The Los Angeles Lakers are considering hiring J.J. Redick as head coach, but LeBron James is reportedly not driving that candidacy. 

"I'm told LeBron James is not involved in the Lakers' head coaching search," said Shams Charania. "I reported on it last week: J.J. Redick, James Borrego and Sam Cassell are the lead initial targets.

"LeBron James James has made it clear that this is the organization's decision. He's had no conversions with the Lakers about JJ Redick, his podcast partner. He has had no conversations with J.J. about this position as well.

"I did speak to Rich Paul this morning. He said 'LeBron James and J.J. Redick do a podcast together. That does not mean that he wants J.J. Redick as his head coach.'

"But he is leaving it up to the organization. We'll see what LeBron James decides for his future. I'm told he's expected to play up to two more NBA season.

"The bottom line with LeBron James is this: if he was making the decisions for the Lakers, Ty Lue would have been the head coach in 2019. Kyrie Irving would be his point guard if he was running the team."

Charania went on to express the thinking that this coaching hire has as much to do with Anthony Davis as it does with James. 

James could become a free agent this offseason, but he is widely expected to remain with the Lakers. 

LeBron James is keeping his options open ahead of free agency. James remains undecided on whether he'll pick up his $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season, or if he'll enter unrestricted free agency.

The Lakers star is still considering the path he wants to take moving forward. James is expected to play up to two more seasons.

In recent weeks, James has distanced himself from the idea that he wants to play on the same team as son Bronny, who is an Early Entry Candidate for the 2024 NBA Draft. That hasn't stopped speculation that teams may draft Bronny James as a way to entice his father to sign with them as a free agent this summer.