Lakers Extend JJ Redick: $45M Through 2030

Merlin sees the Lakers making a clear bet on continuity: JJ Redick received a two-year extension that brings his deal to $45 million and keeps him under contract through 2029-30, announced as the team heads into 2025-26. As GM Rob Pelinka put it, "We think he's a special coach with a special voice that's really helping us define the culture of Lakers excellence." That matters because Redick steered a 50-32 season and a playoff berth amid major roster churn, so the extension signals patience and a long-term plan. Merlin senses this is as much about culture as Xs and Os. Redick’s rookie-year calm with stars and the new supporting cast around Luka Dončić and LeBron — Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia — buys time for chemistry to form. Experience is thin, but the foundation is set; the next season will show if the spell holds.