The Los Angeles Lakers’ spirited pursuit of UConn head coach Dan Hurley wound up being a whole lotta noise for a whole lotta nothing. Monday’s latest Woj Bomb brought news that Hurley is staying put with the Huskies despite a handsome contract offer from the Purple and Gold.
BREAKING: Connecticut’s Dan Hurley has turned down the Los Angeles Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer and will return to chase a third straight national title, sources tell ESPN. LA would’ve made him one of NBA’s six highest paid coaches. pic.twitter.com/hEXo3o00SR
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2024
As swept away as Hurley became by the Lakers courtship and vision for him, he ultimately couldn't walk away from a chance to make history and pursue a third straight NCAA title. Even before Lakers talks, Hurley already had a UConn offer to become one of highest paid NCAA coaches…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2024
As if watching the bitter rival Boston Celtics go up 2-0 in a totally lopsided NBA Finals wasn’t painful enough, Lakers Nation is hurting even more today. The history of college coaches making the transition to the pros isn’t full of major success stories, but given that Hurley has won back-to-back national titles at UConn in such dominant fashion with such a great culture established, I’m pretty sure he would’ve found a way to make it work. In fact, Hurley seemed like the perfect candidate to carry out a rebuild in the post-LeBron James era.
There’s always the chance that Hurley, a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, could wind up with the Knicks or Nets job in a homecoming of sorts within the next several years. Brooklyn badly needs a reboot. If the Knickerbockers fall off at all either this coming season or next, Tom Thibodeau could easily wear out his welcome in a hurry. The Garden would be aflame with Hurley pacing the sidelines for New York.
In the end, I think it was the smart move by Hurley to stick with UConn and try to pull off a three-peat. Acknowledging how iconic the Lakers franchise is, they have so many question marks. Tons of pressure, too, to make one final championship push while praying that LeBron stays healthy amid his 22nd year in the NBA.
Unless the Lake Show unearth a diamond in the rough through the draft or swing some sort of mind-boggling trade to rapidly improve their roster, it’ll be tough for them to contend in such a loaded Western Conference. Hurley could’ve really helped the cause, though, which is probably why Lakers fans are catching all sorts of grief on social media for missing out on such a dynamic leader.
Rob Pelinka: we can’t wait for next season
Dan Hurley: pic.twitter.com/LU6XwUtzIv
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) June 10, 2024
Lakers fans hearing the Dan Hurley news
— Overtime (@overtime) June 10, 2024
Lakers fans finding out that Dan Hurley is staying at UCONN pic.twitter.com/vQS1Z1hXwW
— RingerNBA (@ringernba) June 10, 2024
Lakers fans right now pic.twitter.com/rL1qgF4nTq
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) June 10, 2024
Dan Hurley has turned down a 70m offer to be Lakers HC
Lakers fans:
— Nine (@NINEEEv) June 10, 2024
Lakers fans going back to JJ Redick pic.twitter.com/ZKcRBzkWh3
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) June 10, 2024
Lakers fans convincing themselves that JJ was always the guy pic.twitter.com/pAlOeqR23k
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) June 10, 2024
Dan Hurley trolled Lakers fans so hard wtf pic.twitter.com/NBwdiXUmbs
— 𝓛𝓾 (@BronWitness) June 10, 2024
Lakers fans right now
pic.twitter.com/jJZfkvayNc— Mark Titus Show (@MarkTitusShow) June 10, 2024
Lakers fans rn pic.twitter.com/eWP3MtKM4K
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) June 10, 2024
Dear Lakers fans: Your next coach is a podcaster and the Celtics are up 2-0 in the finals.
Have a nice day.
— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) June 10, 2024
HEY LAKERS FANS LOOK https://t.co/HsnojHG0vL pic.twitter.com/mMtdTUi5Fy
— Mister Big Hoss McHot Balls ☄️☄️ (@MisterHotBalls) June 10, 2024
This is also the current facial expression of all Lakers fans pic.twitter.com/zijnfegB7d
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) June 10, 2024
Lots of people joke about Redick being the next coach because he’s a podcaster. I don’t think that’d be the worst outcome. He clearly knows his stuff. He got an announcing gig at ESPN and is calling the NBA Finals because of how brilliant his basketball mind is. Part of his podcasting endeavors is an Xs and Os-centric two-man show with LeBron himself, so there’s a relationship already established.
However, while I understand why Hurley stayed put, the Lakers are admittedly less intriguing without him at the helm. No matter who takes over, I struggle to see how that roster — with so much reliance on a soon-to-be-40 LeBron — gets Los Angeles any higher than the play-in out West.
