Dan Hurley turned down the Lakers coaching job to remain head coach at UConn, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. So, who should be the Lakers coaches’ main target in the future? And will LeBron James still be a Laker next season? Our NBA editors weigh in.
What was your reaction to Dan Hurley turning down the Lakers?
Vincent Good Will: If you thought he was leaving UConn for this circus, and a dead-end job at that, I have a beachfront property in Detroit to sell you – in December. Does this mean Hurley gets a life sentence? Nobody can say. He could pull a Brad Stevens when no one thought he was leaving Butler, and the leaked number indicates where a team closer to home should start bidding.
Jake Fischer: Much of the buzz around the coaching industry was that the Hurley family’s deep ties to the East Coast would prove too strong for him to ultimately flee a burgeoning dynasty for California. The fact that the Lakers didn’t present a sponsor offer — the reported $70 million over six years isn’t that huge compared to someone already making a lot of money — probably wasn’t going to work. enough to change his situation.
Ben Rohrbach: Not surprised. This is a dead end NBA contract, linked to LeBron James, 40, who is owed more than $50 million next season. He doesn’t improve in a Western Conference that has Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Lakers are 123-123 over the last three seasons. Hurley’s success in Los Angeles would have been an appearance in the Western Conference Finals, as Darvin Ham accomplished. Success for him at UConn could mean history, and the money between the two options turned out to not be that different.
Krysten Peek: Hurley turned down the head coaching job at Kentucky and a lucrative deal for the Lakers that same offseason. He also brought back Alex Karaban, one of his best players, for his junior year and, as if that wasn’t enough, the Huskies are entering a top-10 recruiting class led by five-star Liam McNeeley. Hurley’s return is a huge win for college basketball and no matter how close the decision was one way or the other, he made the right choice to return to Storrs.
Dan Titus: A smart move. Why get mixed up in the Lakers mess when you’re about to make 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 is, he has all the leverage for UConn to support the Brinks truck.
Dan Devine: Congratulations to Dan Hurley on what I imagine is a massive, massive 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?
Fischer: This job always seemed to be JJ Redick’s to lose. The Lakers, by various accounts, are enticed by the similarities between taking Pat Riley out of a broadcaster’s booth before beginning a legendary career in coaching and player personnel. He clearly has a connection with LeBron James, and a real desire to stay on the sidelines.
A look : JJ Redick gets my vote. This has been the narrative behind the scenes the entire time and whether or not Hurley’s interest is smoke and mirrors due to Redick’s current role as a game analyst for the NBA Finals, he is now seen as the secondary option and, I suppose, the best. fit for work.
Guess : With the caveat that coaching success depends much more on the 99% of the work we don’t do it see that the 1% of play-calls, rotation management, use of timeouts, etc., that we carry out:
If the idea is to find someone with experience and a reputation as a creative offensive mind who has helped build productive, efficient, winning units on that side of the ball…maybe David Adelman, of Nuggets staff? After all, the Lakers have seen the effectiveness of Denver’s plan of attack up close and personal over the past two years. Or maybe Sam Cassell, once the Celtics season is over? Few assistants in the league are as 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 a lieutenant in boss of Doc Rivers before joining Joe. Mazzulla on what could soon be a championship-winning Celtics team.
Failing that: maybe see if Frank Vogel is interested. It’s hard to find proven championship coaches, you know?
Titus: Sounds like JJ or bust. If Redick succeeds, he’ll likely be an experienced assistant facing pressure similar to Darvin Ham and Frank Vogel.
Rohrbach: I guess JJ Redick? He was high on their list before the Hurley news storm. I don’t pretend to know who can make the Lakers a serious contender, but I do know this: Whoever it is, he should demand the same six-year, $70 million offer that the Lakers reportedly presented to Hurley.
Good will: Who the hell knows? Some people around the league think JJ Redick won’t want to be involved in this circus and he won’t want to be a second pick, but he wants to coach. The Lakers seem very intrigued by him for some reason and the focus will gradually 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.
A look : Do. The James family is very comfortable in Los Angeles and LeBron himself said he was happy as a Laker. The stars are aligning for his son, Bronny, to join him on the purple-gold Lakers as the first father-son duo to share the court in NBA history, with the Lakers having the 17th and 55th picks in the draft . LeBron’s youngest son, Bryce, will be a senior at Sierra Canyon High School and it makes no sense to uproot the family and move elsewhere when he is so close to retirement.
Guess : Do. He has spent the better part of the last decade moving every aspect of his professional and personal life to Los Angeles. I don’t think he’s going to suddenly decide to step aside to team up with Joel Embiid, or whatever. I think LeBron will be a Laker until he retires…which, given his current productivity level, should come after he plays a season or two with Bronny’s son, LeBron III.
Good will: Do. Because where else is he going? Does he want to win or collect the biggest salary? Exercising your greatest influence or playing with your son? All agendas are contradictory and the easiest and cleanest way to accomplish them is to stay in Los Angeles, with the Lakers. Who’s going to clear $50 million in cap space if James really shows up hat in hand on their doorstep? These wheels should be set in motion now, and there have been very few rumors about it. Of course he could do anything, he COULD leave. But he won’t.
Rohrbach: Do. Going elsewhere would almost certainly mean a significant pay cut. Additionally, James seems to be in complete control of the Lakers. They might even hire his podcast co-host to be their next head coach. They will certainly 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 Los Angeles. What else would make sense other than chasing a ring as a tertiary member of an existing competitor?
Fischer: Do. There’s no other logical landing spot, to begin with. James isn’t taking the minimum to join Phoenix or abandon ship in hopes that Joel Embiid can stay healthy during the playoffs. Does he sign in Detroit? Orlando? Let’s go.
Titus: Do. LeBron’s personal life and professional activities seem rooted in Los Angeles. Bronny’s landing spot could change things going forward, but the Lakers will pay LeBron whatever he wants to stay this offseason. He’s one of the few players in NBA history whose jersey will be retired by three teams, and I don’t imagine him looking forward to joining another team. just Again.
News Source : sports.yahoo.com
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