NBA
Reports say Lakers meet with Dan Hurley and prepare offer for the coach
The UConn coach is said to be on the Lakers’ radar, with the side reportedly preparing a huge offer.
The search continues. After the Lakers told Darvin Ham to pack his bags after another disappointing playoff loss, the side have been on the hunt for a new face to fill the hole on the side of the court. The heavily linked JJ Redick, co-host of a podcast with LeBron James, broadcaster with ESPN and NBA mainstay for almost 20 years, was tipped to be the next boss of the 17-time champions: that now looks unlikely.
The latest name to be linked with the prestigious job is Dan Hurley.
A raised eyebrow or two, let’s be fair, wouldn’t be unusual at hearing the reports that have surfaced over the past 48 hours. The UConn coach has not got a single minute of experience in the elite level of basketball in the States, but his profile seems to fit what the Lakers are looking for.
On the previous occasions Hurley has been linked with a job at the top, he hasn’t exactly been overly keen, at least in public: “There’s no one coaching like me in the NBA,” he said. “They’re not ready ... and certainly, I’m not ready. [But] that is something I aspire to down the road.”
What is Dan Hurley’s record with UConn?
Despite his lack of experience at the top, Hurley has just lead UConn to back-to-back NCAA national championships and in this year’s March Madness, they won their six games with a point differential of +140, an all-time tournament record.
Reports from those close to the deal have suggested that a meeting took place on Friday 7 June, with CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter also confirming that the Lakers are preparing a “massive, long-term contract offer” to Hurley.
Which candidates were on the Lakers’ shortlist for the job?
Sources told ESPN that “Hurley has been at the forefront of the Lakers’ search from the beginning of the process, even while the organisation has done its due diligence interviewing several other candidates”, possibly in reference to the previous links with Redick.
As well as the links with the podcast host, the Lakers have reportedly had several interviews with other candidates, including New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego, Boston Celtics assistant Sam Cassell and Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman.
The report adds that Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka and governor Jeanie Buss are “eager to formally discuss” with Hurley “their vision of marrying his dominant program with the storied Lakers brand”. We shall see how the story develops.