Dan Hurley has turned down the Lakers coaching job to remain head coach at UConn, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. So who should be the Lakers’ top coaching target going forward? And will LeBron James still be a Laker next season? Our NBA writers join in.
What is your reaction to Dan Hurley turning down the Lakers?
Vincent Goodwill: If you thought he was leaving UConn for that circus, and for a dead end at that, I have a piece of beachfront property in Detroit to sell you – in December. Does this mean Hurley is a life saver? No one can say. He could draft Brad Stevens if no one thought he would leave Butler, and the leaked number indicates where a team closer to home should start the bidding.
Jake Fischer: Much of the buzz around the coaching industry was that Hurley’s family’s deep ties to the East Coast would prove too strong for a budding dynasty to eventually flee to California. The fact that the Lakers didn’t make an offer — the reported six years, $70 million isn’t all that staggering compared to someone already making a lot of money — probably wouldn’t be enough to change his circumstances.
Ben Rohrbach: Not surprised. It’s a dead-end NBA gig, tied to a 40-year-old LeBron James, who owes more than $50 million next season. He doesn’t improve in a Western Conference with Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Lakers are 123-123 over the last three seasons. Success for Hurley in Los Angeles would have been a Western Conference finals appearance, the same thing Darvin Ham accomplished. Success for him at UConn could mean history, and the money between the two options turned out not to be that different.
Kristen Peek: Hurley turned down the head coaching job at Kentucky and a lucrative deal for the Lakers, all in the same offseason. He also brought back Alex Karaban, one of his best players, for his junior year and if that wasn’t enough, the Huskies are bringing in a top 10 recruiting class led by five-star Liam McNeeley. Hurley’s return is a huge win for college basketball and as close as the decision was, he made the right move to return to Storrs.
Then Titus: Smart move. Why get caught up in the Lakers mess when you’re on your way to making history as the first team since UCLA in the late ’60s and early ’70s to win three consecutive national championships? As tempting as the offer was, he has all the power for UConn to back the Brinks truck.
Dan Devine: Congratulations to Dan Hurley for what I think will be a huge, huge raise from the University of Connecticut. And of course to everyone who found a way to keep busy during the weekend between Games 1 and 2.
Who should be the Lakers’ top target?
Fisherman: It always looked like JJ Redick was going to lose this job. The Lakers, by various accounts, are charmed by the similarities between Pat Riley once being pulled from a broadcaster’s booth before embarking on a storied career in coaching and player personnel. He clearly has a connection to LeBron James and a real desire to be on the sidelines.
Look: JJ Redick gets my vote. That’s been the behind-the-scenes story all along and whether or not Hurley’s interest smoked due to Redick’s current role as an in-game analyst for the NBA Finals, he is now seen as the secondary option and, I think, the best suited for the job.
Divine: With the caveat that success in coaching has much more to do with the 99% of the work we do not then see the 1% of play-calling, rotation management, timeout usage, etc., that we do:
If the idea is to find someone with experience and a reputation as a creative, attacking mind who has had a hand in building productive, efficient, winning units on that side of the ball… perhaps David Adelman, from the staff of Nuggets? After all, the Lakers have been able to see up close and personal just how effective Denver’s offensive plan is in recent years. Or maybe Sam Cassell, once the Celtics’ season is over? Few assistants in the league are as widely respected as Cassell, whose bona fides include a stellar 15-year playing career with three NBA titles, followed by 15 years as an assistant, with long stints as Doc’s chief lieutenant Rivers before coming into contact with Joe. Mazzulla on what could soon be a championship-winning Celtics team.
If that doesn’t work, maybe see if Frank Vogel is interested. Proven championship coaches are hard to find, you know?
Titus: It looks like JJ or bust. If Redick succeeds, it will likely be a veteran assistant who will face pressure similar to that of Darvin Ham and Frank Vogel.
Rohrbach: I think JJ Redick? He was high on their list before the Hurley news storm. I don’t pretend to know who can turn the Lakers into a serious contender, but I do know this: Whoever it is should demand that same six-year, $70 million offer the Lakers reportedly presented to Hurley.
Good will: Who knows? Some people around the league believe that JJ Redick doesn’t want to be involved in this circus, and he doesn’t want to be a second choice, he wants to coach. The Lakers seem very intrigued by him for whatever reason and the focus will smoothly shift to him. Because who else? The coaching cycle is almost over and Redick is doing a podcast with…Lebron James.
Fact or fiction: LeBron James will be a Laker next season.
Look: Fact. The James family is very comfortable in Los Angeles and LeBron himself has said he is happy as a Laker. The stars are aligned for his son, Bronny, to join him in Laker purple in gold as the first father-son duo to share the court in NBA history, with the Lakers taking the 17th and 55th picks in the have a draft. LeBron’s youngest son, Bryce, will be a senior at Sierra Canyon High School and it doesn’t make sense to uproot the family and move somewhere else when he’s so close to retirement.
Divine: Fact. He has spent the better part of the last decade moving every aspect of his professional and personal life to LA. I don’t think he’s going to suddenly decide he’s going to opt out of working with Joel Embiid, or whatever. I think LeBron will be a Laker until he retires… which, given his current level of productivity, should happen after he plays a season or two with Bronny’s son, LeBron III.
Good will: Fact. Because where else is he going? Does he want to win or cash out the biggest payday? Be his greatest influence, or play with his son? All agendas are contradictory and the easiest and cleanest way to achieve them all is to stay in Los Angeles with the Lakers. Who’s going to free up $50 million in cap space if James really shows up at their door with hat in hand? Those wheels should have been set in motion by now, and very little has been messed about. Of course he could do anything, he COULD leave. But he won’t do that.
Rohrbach: Fact. Going elsewhere would almost certainly mean a significant pay cut. Furthermore, James appears to have complete control over the Lakers. They could even hire his podcast co-host as their next head coach. They will definitely draft his son, Bronny, if he is available at pick No. 55. They will give him a monster extension this summer. His business, home and family are in LA. What other than chasing a ring as a tertiary member of an existing contender would even make sense?
Fisherman: Fact. There’s no other logical landing place to begin with. James isn’t taking the minimum to join Phoenix or jump ship hoping Joel Embiid can stay healthy during a postseason run. Does he sign in Detroit? Orlando? Come on.
Titus: Fact. LeBron’s personal life and business pursuits seem rooted in LA. Bronny’s landing spot could change things going forward, but the Lakers will pay LeBron whatever he wants to stay out this offseason. He is one of the few players in NBA history to have his jersey retired by three teams, and I can’t imagine he has any desire to join another team. just now yet.
